The backlash stemmed from an appearance Arlovski made on a video interview with David Guttman, where the veteran fighter reflected on his storied career in combat sports. The conversation turned to Arlovski’s 2013 encounter under the World Series of Fighting (WSOF) banner against Johnson, a bout that ended with Johnson securing a victory via unanimous decision.
During the interview, Arlovski disputed the judges’ decision from more a decade ago, expressing lingering disagreement with the outcome. However, it was his subsequent phrasing regarding Johnson—who passed away in 2022—that quickly circulated across social media platforms, sparking intense criticism from fans and members of the mixed martial arts community.
"I still think I won that fight, but unfortunately judges gave to him victory," Arlovski said during the interview. "But I win anyway, he’s dead, I’m alive."
The clip, which was highlighted and distributed by fight media outlets including Home of Fight, drew swift condemnation for appearing to mock the tragic death of the fearsome knockout artist.
Faced with mounting criticism online, Arlovski took to Instagram on Saturday to address the controversy directly. The 47-year-old fighter, who is a three-time cancer survivor, offered a heartfelt apology and sought to provide context for his remarks, emphasizing that his words had been misconstrued and exacerbated by a language barrier.
"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 wrote in an Instagram caption. "Anthony beat me in the Octagon. That’s a fact and I have nothing but respect for him as a fighter."
Clarifying the intent behind his provocative phrasing, Arlovski stressed that he never intended to frame Johnson’s death as a personal triumph or a competitive victory.
"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," he continued.
To underscore his perspective on mortality, Arlovski opened up about his own deeply personal and harrowing battles with cancer, revealing that he has faced the disease on three separate occasions. For the Belarusian heavyweight, these life-threatening health crises provided a profound shift in how he views existence, far surpassing any athletic rivalry inside a cage or ring.
"I’ve fought cancer three times myself. Three times I had to face an opponent much bigger than anything I’ve ever faced inside the Octagon," Arlovski wrote. "And believe me—when you’ve been through something like that, you understand how precious life really is."
Anthony Johnson passed away in November 2022 at the age of 38 following a battle with non-Hodgkin’s lymphoma—a type of cancer—and an autoimmune disease that ultimately led to multiple organ failure. Widely regarded as one of the most devastating punchers in the history of mixed martial arts, Johnson enjoyed a stellar 15-year professional career. During his prime, he competed twice for the Ultimate Fighting Championship light heavyweight title, falling short on both occasions against longtime champion Daniel Cormier before eventually transitioning to other ventures later in life.
In his public statement, Arlovski also pointed to the challenges of expressing complex thoughts in a adopted tongue, noting that English is his second language. He acknowledged that his delivery failed to match his true intentions and accepted full accountability for the offense caused by his phrasing.
"English is my second language," Arlovski wrote. "Sometimes the words that come out of my mouth don’t fully express what’s in my heart or my head. I take responsibility for how my words sounded, that’s actually second time I have to apologize for saying something wrong and I’m truly sorry to anyone I hurt or offended, only smart people who can use brains, especially Anthony’s family and loved ones."
Arlovski elaborated on the core message he was attempting to convey during the interview, emphasizing gratitude for life over the ephemeral results of athletic competition.
"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," he stated.
The veteran heavyweight, who remains active in combat sports well into his late forties, most recently competed this past February at BKFC Knuckle Mania 6. In that bare-knuckle boxing appearance, Arlovski secured a victory over fellow veteran Ben Rothwell to claim the promotion’s heavyweight championship, proving that he continues to compete at a high level.
Concluding his lengthy statement, Arlovski reiterated his respect for his late peer and underscored the transient nature of both athletic accolades and life itself.
"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."
