Andrei Arlovski obtained his first style of bare-knuckle motion on Saturday at BKFC 76 as he sliced and diced his strategy to victory over Josh Copeland.
The 46-year-old veteran rolled again the clock as he peppered Copeland with jabs after which unloaded heavier photographs throughout most of the greatest exchanges as he opened up a number of cuts on his opponent’s face. By the tip of the fourth spherical, Copeland had three or 4 important gashes round his eye simply pouring blood and that was sufficient for the referee to cease the competition.
Arlovski will get the TKO win and he wasted no time reigniting an outdated rivalry with reigning BKFC heavyweight champion Ben Rothwell, who he defeated twice previously after they competed in MMA.
“This can be a complete totally different f*cking world. It’s powerful,” Arlovski mentioned about combating in bare-knuckle. “You have got a champion Large Ben Rothwell however I beat your champ twice. So wanting ahead to be sincere with you.
“Will probably be a pleasure to bop with you for the third time within the f*cking BKFC for the title. You’re a f*cking beast. You don’t scare me.”
Rothwell was in attendance and ultimately made his manner into the ring the place he issued a stern warning to Arlovski about what would occur if he challenged him in a bare-knuckle combat.
“You higher be actually cautious what you want for as a result of in the event you combat me like that, I’m going to finish your profession,” Rothwell mentioned.
The fighters ultimately confronted off but in addition shared a handshake as an indication of respect whereas presumably organising a future showdown between them.
As for the combat on Saturday, it was Copeland who truly opened the motion displaying no concern going after the previous UFC champion with Arlovski making an attempt to arrange his counter punches in return. A minute into the combat, Copeland hammered Arlovski with an overhand proper however he absorbed the punishment nicely because the motion continued.
Because the second spherical obtained began, Arlovski tossed out a slick double jab after which complained to the referee with Copeland diving into him head first every time they had been clinched towards the ropes. That earned Copeland a stiff warning earlier than the combat restarted.
With extra time passing, Arlovski was actually beginning to hammer Copeland every time he stepped ahead making an attempt to throw a mixture. Arlovski was tagging Copeland repeatedly after which backing out earlier than he may eat a lot in return.
Simply earlier than the third spherical ended, Arlovski cracked Copeland with a nasty proper hand and he instantly surged ahead trying to end the combat. Copeland survived however he went again to his nook with a ugly minimize opened over his eye from the injury finished by Arlovski.
Arlovski dished out much more punishment within the fourth spherical, repeatedly cracking Copeland with punches and repeatedly focusing on the identical space with the cuts. After the bell rang, Copeland was utterly coated in his personal blood and it didn’t take the physician lengthy wanting on the cuts to find out the combat couldn’t proceed.
It was a powerful debut for Arlovski and it seems he’s already organising a possible title combat now that he has a brand new residence in BKFC.
