Andrei Arlovski, a former UFC heavyweight champion, returned to winning form after nearly three years with a TKO victory over Terrance Hodges.
Competing in the co-main event of Dirty Boxing 1 in Miami, Arlovski faced Hodges in his first fight since leaving the UFC in June. The 46-year-old veteran utilized brutal elbows in the second round, opening a significant cut on Hodges` face. The ringside doctor intervened, stopping the fight at the 2:00 minute mark of the second round due to the severity of the injury.
Video footage captured the fight-ending blow.
Throughout the first round, Arlovski leveraged his experience, patiently waiting for Hodges to engage. While Hodges initiated clinches and pressed forward, Arlovski effectively used elbows and consistently landed his jab when at distance. Hodges managed to land body shots, but Arlovski concluded the first round with a strong combination of elbows and punches.
In the second round, Arlovski increased his offensive output and inflicted the fight-ending cut on Hodges. The doctor promptly assessed the injury and halted the contest.
This victory breaks Arlovski`s four-fight losing streak and marks a successful debut under the Dirty Boxing banner. He is anticipated to compete for the Los Angeles team in the GFL later this year.
