Former champion recalled 2013 loss while mentioning Johnson's death

Says comments were about cancer battle and value of life

Former UFC heavyweight champion Andrei Arlovski. [Getty Images]
Former UFC heavyweight champion Andrei Arlovski. [Getty Images]

Former UFC heavyweight champion Andrei Arlovski of Belarus has apologized after drawing fierce criticism for remarks that appeared to link the death of the late Anthony "Rumble" Johnson — who once defeated him — to his own survival. The controversy has continued, however, after Arlovski directed profanity at his critics within the same apology post.

Arlovski, 47, appeared recently on David Guttman's podcast, where he recalled his 2013 bout against Johnson at the World Series of Fighting. Arlovski lost that fight by unanimous decision.

"I still think I won that fight. Unfortunately, the judges gave him the win," Arlovski said. He then added: "But anyway, I'm the winner. He's dead and I'm alive."

The remarks drew immediate backlash given that Johnson died after a real battle with cancer. Johnson died in November 2022 at 38 from non-Hodgkin's lymphoma and organ failure linked to an autoimmune disease. A powerful striker who twice challenged for the UFC light heavyweight title, Johnson was widely beloved by combat sports fans.

Once the comments spread online, criticism poured in over what many saw as Arlovski framing a fellow fighter's death as a personal victory. The backlash was particularly sharp given that Arlovski had faced Johnson directly in competition and was now invoking his death in the context of a win-loss record.

Arlovski ultimately issued an apology on Instagram. "It is true that Anthony beat me, and I respect him as a fighter," he said. "I never meant to imply that his death was in any way my victory."

He also disclosed that he had fought cancer three times himself. "I had to face an opponent far tougher than anyone I ever faced in the octagon — three times," Arlovski said. "When you go through something like that, you realize how precious it is just to be alive."

Arlovski also cited the language barrier. "English is my second language. Sometimes the words that come out don't fully convey what's in my mind," he said, while acknowledging responsibility for how his remarks were received.

"I sincerely apologize to anyone who was hurt or offended — especially Anthony's family and those close to him," he said. "Cancer is not a competition, and death is not a victory. Life itself is a gift."

The apology post, however, also contained harsh language directed at his critics. Arlovski said the interview content should have been reviewed before it was published, then lashed out with profanity at those he said were looking for reasons to attack him. In a separate post, he pushed back against what he called a distortion of his words, saying he had never celebrated Johnson's death.

A veteran of the UFC heavyweight division, Arlovski left the promotion in 2024 but has continued competing in combat sports. In February this year, he won the BKFC heavyweight title at Knucklemania 6, defeating Ben Rothwell under the bare-knuckle boxing organization's banner.


yjc@heraldcorp.com