Former UFC heavyweight champion Andrei Arlovski has issued a sincere public apology following widespread criticism over remarks he made regarding his 2013 fight against the late Anthony "Rumble" Johnson. Arlovski had stated that he considered himself the "real winner" of the bout simply because he is still alive, a comment that drew severe backlash due to Johnson’s tragic passing in 2022.
The 47-year-old veteran fighter took to social media to clarify his remarks, explaining that his statement was intended to express profound gratitude for surviving his own private battles with cancer, rather than to celebrate or make light of Johnson’s untimely death. Arlovski explicitly apologized to Johnson’s family, friends, and loved ones, pointing out that language barriers may have distorted how his message was received by the public.
The controversy began when a recorded interview surfaced featuring Arlovski reflecting on his unanimous decision defeat to Johnson at World Series of Fighting 2 in March 2013. During the interview, Arlovski remarked, "I’m winner anyway. He’s dead, I’m alive." The stark juxtaposition of those words, given that Johnson passed away at the age of 38 from organ failure brought on by non-Hodgkin’s lymphoma and hemophagocytic lymphohistiocytosis, triggered immediate condemnation across the mixed martial arts community and social media platforms.
Andrei Arlovski Clarifies His Comments Amid Backlash
Faced with mounting criticism, Arlovski published a lengthy and emotional statement on Instagram to address the controversy, air his frustrations with online detractors, and set the record straight regarding his true intentions.
"Nothing to say, except: it was a lesson," Arlovski wrote on Instagram, venting his frustration before translating his thoughts. "Before interview going live – I have to check it and F*** You to ALL HATERS, because they digging to find something BAD! Anyway it’s easier with Google Translate to explain myself: I want to clear something up because I’ve been receiving a lot of hate over something I said in a recent interview about Anthony ‘Rumble’ Johnson."
Arlovski reaffirmed that Johnson decisively defeated him inside the Octagon, emphasizing that his sporting loss has never been in dispute and that he holds deep respect for Johnson as an elite competitor.
"Anthony beat me in the Octagon. That’s a fact and I have nothing but respect for him as a fighter!" Arlovski continued. "When I said that I was still a winner because I’m alive today – YES! I NEVER meant that his passing was somehow my victory. That’s not who I am and that’s not what I believe!"
The former heavyweight champion then opened up about his own harrowing health battles, revealing a personal context that profoundly shaped his perspective on mortality. Arlovski disclosed that he has fought cancer three separate times, facing an adversary far more formidable than any human opponent he ever squared off against inside a cage.
"I’ve fought cancer THREE TIMES myself," Arlovski wrote. "Three times I had to face an opponent much bigger than anything I’ve ever faced inside the Octagon. And believe me – when you’ve been through something like that, you understand how precious LIFE really is."
Acknowledging the role that communication played in the misunderstanding, Arlovski noted that English is his second language, which often makes it difficult to fully convey the thoughts and emotions in his head and heart. He expressed regret for his phrasing and took full accountability for the offense caused, reiterating his apology to those hurt by the remarks.
"English is my second language. Sometimes the words that come out of my mouth don’t fully express what’s in my heart or my head," Arlovski stated. "I take responsibility for how my words sounded, that’s actually the 2nd time I have to apologize for saying something wrong and I’m truly sorry to anyone I hurt or offended, especially Anthony’s family and loved ones!"
He concluded his statement by clarifying the core message he wished to convey about perspective, gratitude, and the fragility of human existence.
"What I was trying to say is that the greatest victory in life isn’t about winning a fight. It’s about being alive, being grateful and having another chance to wake up tomorrow morning! None of us knows what tomorrow will bring! Not me, Not you, Nobody!" Arlovski wrote. "Anthony won our fight. Nothing will ever change that. Cancer is not a competition. Death is not a victory. LIFE is the GIFT. Rest in peace, Anthony ‘Rumble’ Johnson."
What Happened When Andrei Arlovski Fought Anthony Johnson?
The historical bout that sparked the controversy took place on March 29, 2013, serving as the main event for World Series of Fighting 2. At the time, Anthony Johnson was transitioning into the heavyweight division after a notable career competing as a welterweight, bringing his trademark explosive knockout power up to the heavier weight class.
The contest lived up to its high-stakes billing and featured dramatic moments from the opening bell. Toward the conclusion of the first round, Johnson caught Arlovski with a devastating, trademark right hand that dropped the former UFC champion to the canvas and ultimately broke Arlovski’s jaw during the fierce exchanges.
Despite suffering significant facial trauma and fighting through intense pain, Arlovski demonstrated legendary durability by surviving the remaining minutes of the bout. The match went the full distance, resulting in a unanimous decision victory for Johnson, with all three ringside judges scoring the contest 29-28 in his favor.
The fight also carried a degree of historical controversy outside of the judges’ scorecards. A timekeeping dispute emerged immediately following the event, with Arlovski’s coaching staff and camp arguing that the opening round had inadvertently run significantly longer than its scheduled duration, potentially altering the momentum of the stanza in which Arlovski was dropped.
Despite the physical toll of the bout and the disputed clock, the aftermath of the fight was defined by mutual respect. Following his victory, Johnson publicly praised Arlovski, describing the Belarusian-American veteran as one of his personal idols and expressing profound admiration for his toughness and career achievements inside the sport of mixed martial arts.
