Mitrione wants fight with Arlovski next
After his last knockout win, his second in a row, Matt Mitrione called for a fight with some one relevant in the rankings to prove he belonged.
After his last knockout win, his second in a row, Matt Mitrione called for a fight with some one relevant in the rankings to prove he belonged. Now he has a particular person in mind:
The 36-year old Mitrione told Ariel Helwani that he feels like Arlovski is the fight that he needs to take the next step towards contention. Having fought all 11 of his professional MMA bouts in the UFC, and having amassed an 8-3 record with a two-fight win streak, Mitrione looks at the suddenly revitalized Arlovski as an appropriate step in his career.
Mitrione had hoped to land a fight with Alistair Overeem, if Overeem would have gotten by Ben Rothwell that same night in Connecticut. Since Overeem didn’t, Mitrione — who told UFC Tonight that out of respect for Arlovski he doesn’t want to blatantly call him out — is intrigued by how he’d stack up in the former UFC champion. He said that Arlovski was a chance to “really put something together here” and move into the heavyweight rankings.
Mitrione is currently unranked in the division and Arlovski is ranked seventh. Both are coming off quick knockout losses and although the fight doesn’t move Arlovski’s career forward, it certainly could be a boost for Mitrione’s. It’s not a matchup that makes sense rankings wise, but it certainly would be entertaining.