Former UFC heavyweight champion Andrei Arlovski is transitioning to bare-knuckle boxing.
Bare Knuckle Fighting Championship (BKFC) recently announced that Arlovski will make his promotional debut on June 21 in Fort Worth, Texas. His opponent at BKFC 76 will be Geronimo dos Santos.
Arlovski, 46, had a distinguished career in mixed martial arts. He held the interim UFC heavyweight title after winning at UFC 51 in February 2005 and was later recognized as the undisputed champion. After losing the belt, he experienced mixed results, leaving the UFC in 2008. He returned six years later for another lengthy stint, eventually departing the promotion in 2024 following a four-fight losing streak. Known as “The Pitbull,” he has already ventured into Dirty Boxing this year, securing a second-round stoppage in March.
Geronimo dos Santos, a seasoned MMA veteran with a record of 45-26-1, is also a recent addition to BKFC. He made a successful debut for the promotion in April, defeating Aleksei Oleinik at BKFC 41.
Marcus Blakely