UFC Heavyweight Contender Andrei Arlovski Wants Rematch with Fedor Emelianenko

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A rejuvenated Andrei Arlovski may very well be on the brink of a heavyweight title shot in the UFC, but it appears that recent news has piqued the Belarusian’s interest.

Recently multiple reports have surfaced that Former Pride Fighting Championships heavyweight titlist Fedor Emelianenko is on the verge of a return to mixed martial arts. While “The Last Emperor” has not yet picked a promotion for his comeback, Arlovski has a strong suggestion for the stoic Russian.

“If Fedor is coming back, he should come back to the best MMA organization in the world and UFC is that! I have always sought out to right the wrong in my career and have been very successful so far. He is who I want to take on next!” Arlovski wrote on his blog.

“That's the fight everyone wants to see right now and I want to deliver what my fans want!!”

Arlovski initially squared off with Emelianenko at Affliction “Day of Reckoning” on Jan. 24, 2009. Things were going reasonably well for the former UFC heavyweight king until he launched a flying knee at his opponent. Emelianenko capitalized on the risky maneuver, as he knocked Arlovski out with a counter right hand at the 3:14 mark of round one.

“I saw that my kicks and my punches hurt him, and, for some reason, I jumped because people started screaming ‘Pit Bull,’” Arlovski told Sherdog.com in 2011. “It was cool when I did the flying knee against Ben Rothwell [at Affliction ‘Banned’], but it doesn’t work against Emelianenko.”

Arlovski's wishes may be unrealistic in the long run, as the UFC's difficulties in coming to terms with Emelianenko in the past were well documented. Instead of signing with Zuffa to set up a lucrative showdown with Randy Couture in 2008, the pound-for-pound legend ultimately signed with Strikeforce.

The Jackson-Wink MMA standout has been on a roll of late, with just one loss in his last 11 fights. “The Pit Bull’s” hot streak includes three straight triumphs in the Octagon, including back-to-back first-round knockouts of Antonio Silva and Travis Browne. Arlovski is believed to be one of the leading candidates to receive the next title shot against reigning heavyweight champion Fabricio Werdum.