Andrei Arlovski vs. Brett Rogers

The evening’s third matchup is a surefire slugfest between former UFC Heavyweight champion Andrei “The Pitbull” Arlovski and EliteXC veteran Bret “The Grim” Rogers.  Both men have an abundance of knockout power, so the likelihood of this one going the distance is slim to none.

Brett Rogers is most notable for calling Kimbo Slice pathetic at a post fight press conference and for launching James Thompson’s head into an independent orbit during their EliteXC matchup. Rogers’ punching power is unquestionable, and he is a physically imposing figure who is more than capable of bullying most opponents physically.  He is 9-0 thusfar in his career, but Arlovski is an absolutely huge step up in competition.  With a chin that has never really been tested and a lack of top-level competition, this is a make or break fight for Rogers.  A win would cement him as one of the top heavyweights outside of UFC, and an embarassing defeat will make him look like a mediocre guy who inflated his record against poor competition.

Former UFC champ Arlovski needs very little introduction.  A human highlight reel with the kind of punching power that gives guys nightmares, Arlovski’s career has been an up and down road.  For a while, he looked like a one-man wrecking crew in UFC, chalking up vicious KO after vicious KO.  Two losses to Tim Sylvia and a few uninspired performances, however, sent his stock plummeting, and he was unceremoniously cut from UFC.  As it turned out, a change of scenery was just what the doctor ordered, and Arlovski went on another tear, annihilating quality opponents in Ben Rothwell and Roy Nelson.  In his last outing, though, Arlovski’s momentum was yet again halted, when he got absolutely destroyed by a Fedor Emelianenko counter punch after attempting an ill-advised flying knee in a round he was, until that point, handily winning.  Arlovski’s striking looked incredible against Emelianenko, but his lack of a chin yet again cost him.

This one is going to come down to Arlovski’s level of aggression.  If he jumps on Rogers out of the gate, using his superior handspeed and accuracy, this is going to be an ugly fight for “The Grim.”  Rogers has more than enough power, though, to put the notoriously glass-jawed Arlovski in a coma with a single power punch.  That puncher’s chance probably won’t be enough, however, as Arlovki’s vast edge in both technique and experience will win the day.  

Arlovski by brutality, early round 1.

1.  The ILL SilverBack on June 5th, 2009 8:59 am

   This is great… Brett is my friend and training partner for the past 2yrs.. The reality is that people have no clue about how versatile Brett is… from wrestling to submissions, he simply prefers to knock u out….period, its by choice but you all will see what I’m talking about more sooner than later. Much respect to Andrei, he’s done his however, once he feels how hard Brett punches, he’ll be lookin for a way out !!lol

2.  Joe, NJ on June 5th, 2009 4:36 pm

   Rogers has a “punchers chance”, that’s about it.
   If Arlovski doesn’t end it in one, Rogers will take a systematic beatdown, pure and simple.
   Thumbs up to Rogers for taking the fight, but in my opinion he is being “fed to the wolves”.
   A much better and more even match up would have been Paul Buentello agains Rogers.