Jake Paul and Anthony Joshua weren't the only high-profile heavyweights to fight at the Kaseya Center in Miami last Friday. Also in attendance at the celebration was former UFC champion Andrei Arlovski, who unexpectedly found himself involved in perhaps the most viral moment of the evening.
After the event concluded, Arlovski, 46, prepared to leave the venue with his family and friends. However, things quickly went south when Arlovski collided with polarizing streamer Jack Doherty, who was filming while walking around the arena. The brief encounter quickly escalated when Doherty's friends, along with his bodyguard, threw punches at the MMA legend, sparking a brief brawl.
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Arlovski, 46, walked away unscathed after the YouTubers backed down. Speaking on Monday's episode “The Ariel Helwani Show” by Uncrowned. Arlovski explained what exactly caused the quarrel.
“I tried to avoid all this [but they] bumped into my wife. And shit happens, you know? I turn around and ask, “Hey, what's going on?” And boom, bang, bang, bang, bang, boom, boom — end of story,” Arlovski said Monday on “The Ariel Helwani Show” Uncrowned, recalling the conversation.
“He hit me and I said, 'Boy, what's going on?' And his friend and bodyguard attacked me, and the video speaks for itself. So I want to get more shots from different angles. That's all.”
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Arlovski (34-24 MMA; 1-0 Boxing; 1-0 BKFC; 1-0 Dirty Boxing) competed professionally at the highest level of combat sports over four different decades.
Despite his fame, Arlovski was amazed by the attention he received from this interaction.
“I woke up in the morning. I said, “What's going on? Damn it”. SMS, phone calls, some messages on Instagram. “You’re a hero,” etc., etc., etc. I was shocked,” Arlovski said. “Listen, after some fights in the UFC, I didn’t get that much attention.”
Part of Doherty's online shtick is that he bumps into strangers and starts fights while hiding behind his bodyguard and associates. The 22-year-old has since taken to social media to protest his innocence in the fight. Despite video evidence filmed from multiple angles proving otherwise, Doherty stated that it was Arlovski who confronted his cameraman and threw a kick at him, causing a flurry of fists.
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In a good mood after the event, Arlovski plays along with the online response and even welcomes a bizarre multi-person brawl or showdown with Doherty's bodyguard.
“Everyone blames the old dog, the old man,” Arlovski said amusingly. “Listen, I've spent a hell of a time reading these comments and 99% of them think you're full of crap, my guy.
“After twenty-five plus years in the business, you think I don't have enough fight time in the octagon, in the cage, in the ring, in training, and I'm stupid enough to [start something with some kids]? I understand if I fucked alone and was drunk, shit happens, but it's clear in the video [what happened]. Like, come on, man. I tried to ask him what was going on and was immediately hit. It is what it is.”
Given how annoyed Arlovski is as a combat sports veteran, the spat initially sparked speculation over its legitimacy, thanks to Doherty's history of performing similar stunts online. When asked directly whether this was so, Arlovski answered as simply as one would expect.
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“How old am I?” – he said with a laugh. “Of course not.”
As for his professional career, Arlovski took a break from MMA after parting ways with the UFC in 2024. “The Pitbull” will return to action when he challenges BKFC Heavyweight Champion Ben Rothwell in the main event of BKFC: KnuckleMania 6 on February 7th. The match would be a trilogy of sorts, with Arlovski knocking out Rothwell under the Affliction banner in 2008, then winning the UFC rematch by decision in 2019.
