Arlovski's future may hang in balance of UFC Fight Night 51 rematch with 'Bigfoot'

(This story first appeared in Friday’s USA TODAY.)

BRASILIA, Brazil – At one time, former UFC heavyweight titleholder Andrei Arlovski was one of the biggest stars in MMA.

But in his most recent appearance – a lackluster June win over Brendan Schaub – it didn’t appear the 35-year-old still had what it takes to compete at the sport’s highest level.

UFC President Dana White admitted he was “disappointed” in Arlovski’s performance, but the outspoken exec still entrusted the former champ with a headlining role at Saturday’s “UFC Fight Night: Bigfoot vs. Arlovski 2? card in Brasilia, Brazil (UFC Fight Pass, 5:45 p.m. ET).

“Guys have bad nights,” White said. “It’s not like I hate Brendan Schaub or Andrei Arlovski because of it. I just hated that fight.”

Arlovski admitted that after spending six years fighting for other promotions after he left the UFC in 2008, he was nervous before his return fight against Schaub. He agrees it was not his best night, but still points to the result as proof he belongs in the UFC.

“I agree with Dana White,” Arlovski said. “It was not my best performance, but at the same time, it was an OK fight. I controlled pretty much the whole three rounds, and look at Scahub’s face. He looked like he was hit by a train. But absolutely, yes, it was so far from my best performance.”

On Saturday, Arlovski (22-10 MMA, 11-4 UFC) faces Brazilian slugger Antonio “Bigfoot” Silva (18-5 MMA, 2-2 UFC) in a five round main event. It’s a familiar foe for Arlovski, who previously faced Silva in a 2010 bout under the Strikeforce banner, but not one with whom he enjoyed a great deal of success the first time around.

“Four years ago, ‘Bigfoot’ whooped my (butt),” Arlovski said. “I really appreciate the opportunity that the UFC gave me to face ‘Bigfoot’ at a ‘Fight Night’ in Brazil. I’m very excited.”

For his part, Silva isn’t putting too much stock in the first result.

“That was another fight and another time,” Silva told USA TODAY Sports. “Both me and Arlovski are different fighters today, and I think it’s going to be a completely different fight.”

Adding to the challenge for Arlovski, Brazil has proven a notoriously hostile environment for foreign fighters, with Brazilians winning 69 percent of the UFC contests that have been booked between native fighters and foreigners in the country.

Arlovski, who attended a Thursday workout session wearing a shirt given to him by officers from Brazil’s Sao Paulo Police Academy, said he’s well aware of the setting he’ll face.

“A crowd is a crowd,” Arlovski said. “At least I know six people from Brazil are going to be on my side. They are police officers in Sao Paulo. … When I flew here a few weeks ago for a press tour, we stopped by a training center for the police department in Sao Paulo, and they gave me this shirt and then we went to shoot. It was a good time.

“I hope it’s going to be a little bit more. If somebody is going to scream my name in the crowd, I’m going to fight for that person, too.”

While neither fighter is billing the contest as a grudge match, their pre-fight staredown was certainly intense. Silva put a fist near Arlovski’s chin, and Arlovski quickly slapped it aside. But theatrics aren’t needed to amplify the importance of the moment for Arlovski. He’s an underdog in nearly every measurable way, and his future may hang in the balance of his performance.

“I just need to show a good fight,” Arlovski said. “I need to show an exciting fight. Definitely, he’s a dangerous opponent for me. It’s going to be a very good fight for me.

“My coaches did a real good job. We did homework, and I’m ready to go. Like Nike: Just do it.”

For more on UFC Fight Night 51, check out the UFC Rumors section of the site.