Weight Class: Heavyweight Welcome back Andrei Arlovski. For the former champ's return, the UFC has lined up heavyweight stalwart Brendan Schaub, currently on a two fight win streak with victories over Matt Mitrone and Lavar Johnson. Here's the key point: Schaub has gained a reputation for having a glass jaw over the years. He's been KO'd Roy Nelson, an ageing Big Nog, and Ben Rothwell. The Nelson KO is nothing to be ashamed of, and Rothwell hits pretty hard, but getting caught by Nog at that point in the Brazilian's career is somewhat questionable. For his part, Arlovski has said that he's not counting on connecting with Schaub's supposed glass jaw, and beyond that, Schaub has shown the ability to adapt, and possesses an impressive ground game. We should also keep in mind that Arlovski's own chin has been questioned numerous times over the years. Still, the UFC has clearly lined up a favourable opponent for the ex-champ's return. His training with Greg Jackson has seen Arlovski elevate his game, and he's more than capable of going the distance. If he doesn't catch Schaub early, Arlovski takes this one via decision. That said, I'm calling Arlovski by KO in the first. Either way, this is his fight to lose.
Primarily covering the sport of MMA from Ontario, Canada, Jay Anderson has been writing for various publications covering sports, technology, and pop culture since 2001. Jay holds an Honours Bachelor of Arts degree in English from the University of Guelph, and a Certificate in Leadership Skills from Humber College.
