There’s a live Video Chat with Andrei Arlovski schedule for this Friday at 8pm CST on Arlovski.com.

It’ll be interesting to see what Arlovski has to say about his last bout on January 24th in Anaheim, California, where he lost to Fedor Emelianenko via KO. Arlovski was actually doing really well and winning the bout during the first round until he got a big overaggressive and trying a jumping knee, to which Fedor answered with a big right that knocked “The Pitbull” old cold.

When he’s on Arlovski is a very difficult fighter to beat. Since March 22, 2002 he has only lost to Tim Sylvia and Fedor Emelianenko.

STRIKING

 

Fedor has shown some great ability to adapt to any circumstances thrown at him, including striking. Against Mirko Filipovic, he was expected to be tested greatly on the feet and potentially dominated in that realm. But in that classic Pride FC matchup, Fedor found a way to outwit and outstrike Filipovic at times to win the fight by decision. Against Tim Sylvia many expect the Russian to be in trouble due to the power and reach of the 6’8 American heavyweight. But once again Fedor rose to the occasion and Sylvia dropped fast as a result. Seconds into the fight a barrage of fists dropped Sylvia and Fedor quickly pounced to attack.

 

Arlovski has a strong striking arsenal and is more of a knockout machine than Fedor. He has been able to KO Paul Buentello, Justin Eilers, Ian Freeman and drop several fighters in the process.

 

Nonetheless when it comes to coming up with effective technique on the feet and adapting to fighters Fedor is exceptional. That ability can give him an edge here.

 

WRESTLING

 

Fedor has a great ability to get fights to the ground and work some of the most brutal ground and pound the sport has seen. His vicious beating of Nogueira, Schilt, Herring and others on the mat are classic displays of the effectiveness of ground and pound, when done methodically and paradoxically also hyper aggressively. He will likely find a way to get Arlovski down in the fight.

 

CARDIO

 

Neither fighter seems to tire in their pursuit of victory. Neither is likely to have an edge over the other in this fight.

 

CONSISTENCY

 

Fedor hasn’t lost a round in his career, aside from the cut defeat he suffered quickly and freakishly early in his career. He has been on one hell of a roll his entire career. Arlovski has been up and down, more up then down, but after his defeat to Tim Sylvia in their second bout he has shown some fluctuation in his performance levels.

 

AGGRESSION

 

If you rewind to the time Arlovski was champion in the UFC he would be even with Fedor or arguably ahead in this category. But in recent times “The Pitbull” of old has lost some of his bite. We’d have to again point to his KO loss to Tim Sylvia as a big turning point in this area. Arlovski came in aggressively to finish Sylvia in that fight but ended up eating a big right hand that dropped him in that process. That loss seemed to take some of the classic ultra aggression Arlovski brought to every fight.

Fedor on the other hand appears to be as maniacal as ever in the cage. Of course he is super calm and stoic when fighting, but is able to channel high levels of aggression in his attack when he fights. That underlying current of serenity somehow generates a surge of violence when the bell rings. He has the greater killer instinct as of late.

 

STRENGTH

 

Both fighters are very strong, but the functional strength in terms of submission and wrestling goes to Fedor. With punches, judo tosses, securing grappling techniques, he is able to generate a lot of power in ever one of those areas.

 

GAME PLANNING

 

Fedor is the master of game planners and is up their with Randy Couture in this area. While Arlovski finds ways to win in most fights, Fedor pretty much always wins every fight. He comes up with effective strategies to overcome the best his opponents have to offer.

 

CURRENT FORM

 

Both fighters looked good in their last fight, but Fedor is coming off one of the most impressive wins in his career. Tim Sylvia himself noted that the Russian doesn’t appear to be human after he was defeated by Fedor via rear naked choke. 

 

SUBMISSIONS

 

Both fighters will likely negate one another in this area. Sambo masters they both are, but Fedor has been more deadly in the ground submission game, securing some stellar armbars and rear naked chokes in his illustrious career.

 

THE OUTCOME

 

This fight would have been more appealing a few years back when both fighters where kings of their respective leagues, UFC champion Arlovski vs Pride champion Fedor. But this is nonetheless an amazing fight and a great opportunity for Arlovski to becoming the top dog in MMA at heavyweight by taking down the king of all fighters over 205 pounds. Arlovski could very well win this fight but you have to put your money on the seemingly unstoppable force that is Fedor Emelianenko. He is a man who was made to destroy fighters in the ring. He will come out on top in this fight.