Cagewriter - UFC

Cagewriter

Wed Jan 07, 2009 6:20 pm EST

Now Arlovski's the best boxer in MMA?

By Steve Cofield

Wow, this Freddie Roach-Andrei Arlovski thing is getting a bit out of control. We pointed out a few days ago that Arlovski might be falling in love a little too much with the stand-up game. If his takedown and more importantly submission defense has any holes, Fedor Emelianenko will walk right through the gaps to a victory at their Jan. 24 fight.

You can't punch from your back. Now we're only being fed isolated footage from Arlovski's training but Roach, his managers and some media members are really raving about Arlovski's boxing. One media member featured in the latest edition of Arlovski 360 says that he's the best boxer in mixed martial arts.

Roach would tell you himself that Arlovski isn't even the best MMA fighter that he's worked with as far as hands go. I'll take B.J. Penn, Quinton Jackson and Rashad Evans over Arlovski.

Part of being a great boxer is also avoiding punches and the strength of your chin. Let's not forget that Arlovski lost quickly by knockout in fight No. 2 against Tim Sylvia and could never catch the big man in their third fight. Fedor had no problem catching Sylvia. Roach is talking a good game saying recently that Fedor's striking is sloppy.

digg delicious
more

58 Comments

Post a Comment
  1. Nutcracker
    1. Posted by Nutcracker Thu Sep 03, 2009 8:22 pm EDT

    Report Abuse

    BJ Penn?? Come on Steve. He outboxed a wild hack with stubby arms in Sherk, but I swear it was a novice class golden gloves tourney in an octagon.. I can see Evans and Page, but Penn?? Nahhhhh...
  2. Ican2
    2. Posted by Ican2 Thu Sep 03, 2009 3:39 pm EDT

    Report Abuse

    BJ Penn has decent hands but great No way, and Page dude are you for real?? His hands are just comming together...Nate Q has better hands then those guys but that's it..
  3. Ican2
    3. Posted by Ican2 Thu Sep 03, 2009 3:39 pm EDT

    Report Abuse

    BJ Penn has decent hands but great No way, and Page dude are you for real?? His hands are just comming together...Nate Q has better hands then those guys but that's it..
  4. Nutcracker
    4. Posted by Nutcracker Thu Sep 03, 2009 8:22 pm EDT

    Report Abuse

    Ican2 I dont believe it. We actually almost agree.. I think Page is heavy handed, but not technically a great stand up fighter. . Evans more than anyone has shown improvement and solid fundamentals in his striking game.
  5. SouthCal21
    5. Posted by SouthCal21 Thu Sep 03, 2009 9:34 pm EDT

    Report Abuse

    how did i know i would see nutcracker in here when an mma blog makes a reference to boxing skills?? love it.....let the onslaught of debate begin....hey theres a new post in the boxing blog (for once) if you care to partake, nut?
  6. Nutcracker
    6. Posted by Nutcracker Thu Sep 03, 2009 8:22 pm EDT

    Report Abuse

    SouthCal21. I thought I was pretty tame as far as the MMA/Boxing thing goes. I dont check the boxing blog that much as Cofield rarely puts anything on that site. Lole occasionally. And when Cofield does put something on there, it is usually a dig at the sport, not anything of substance. Some of that bottom tier boxing journalism I speak of.
  7. fightchica
    7. Posted by fightchica Thu Sep 03, 2009 10:53 pm EDT

    Report Abuse

    Fedor is one cool cat, the look in his eyes when he's facing his opponent is somethin' else for sure. Arlovsky will give him a good fight true I also say that is if the fight stays on its feet, and before you jumping down my throat about his being KO'd everybody has a button. You just got to hit it for the KO. Fedor is so smooth in the submission unless Andrei is improving a black belt there is little chance of this fight going his way.
  8. Nutcracker
    8. Posted by Nutcracker Thu Sep 03, 2009 8:22 pm EDT

    Report Abuse

    And remember, Roach is going to hype anyone he trains. Remember how great he thought De La Hype was when he was his trainer?? How quickly that opinion changed.. Hey where is Ibarra?? Laying waste to young talent at the local PAL ??
  9. fightchica
    9. Posted by fightchica Thu Sep 03, 2009 10:53 pm EDT

    Report Abuse

    Nutcracker it is (eye)ol(ee) Iole not Lole
  10. Ican2
    10. Posted by Ican2 Thu Sep 03, 2009 3:39 pm EDT

    Report Abuse

    Actually almost hahahahaa..well there's a complement...almost....LOL..
    Evans for sure has better hands then the three on that list.. But D-rok is totally right not spectacular at all...
    I can't wait to see this amazing transformation by AA..I did say earlier this month that if anyone has a chance to beat Fedor it is AA he's the only real credible challenge fedor has faced in awhile..That's my opinion anyways..and you got that right AA better come to play or he's gonna get his ass handed to him in ala cart fashion..
  11. Ican2
    11. Posted by Ican2 Thu Sep 03, 2009 3:39 pm EDT

    Report Abuse

    Jumping down your throat wouldnt be how i'd phrase it..;-)
  12. Karl A
    12. Posted by Karl A Thu Sep 03, 2009 4:47 pm EDT

    Report Abuse

    Fedor wins without too much of a problem. The funny thing is AA is a good fighter and has really improved. Fedor is just that good.
  13. david
    13. Posted by david Thu Sep 03, 2009 4:00 pm EDT

    Report Abuse

    am i the only one who missed the part where someone said he had the best boxing in mma? Steve you need to actually watch the videos you are blogging about!!!! No one said it, so that sort of makes this a silly blog in my mind.
  14. Steven W
    14. Posted by Steven W Thu Sep 03, 2009 10:47 pm EDT

    Report Abuse

    cofield says the strength of your chin is part of being a great boxer? last i heard most were born with sturdy chins...there's a certain amount of movement and stance you can alter to allow yourself to take a bigger punch, but most is just luck, genes or whatever.....not boxing.
  15. Ican2
    15. Posted by Ican2 Thu Sep 03, 2009 3:39 pm EDT

    Report Abuse

    De La who???
    Roach is he like a real credible boxing trainer?? Seriously I thought he just jumped on the wagon on some loosing fighters...I need some history on this guy..
  16. Steven W
    16. Posted by Steven W Thu Sep 03, 2009 10:47 pm EDT

    Report Abuse

    and you guys are being too critical...remember these are mma fighters, so everything is relative. of course, bj doesn't have "great" boxing hands, but i'd say his hands are great in comparison to most mma fighters. same goes for page and rashad....but Ican2, quarry? really? he's got heavy hands true, but i think that's reaching just a little.
  17. Steven W
    17. Posted by Steven W Thu Sep 03, 2009 10:47 pm EDT

    Report Abuse

    oh and about AA....someone else said something about him being hot and cold depending on the night...i agree, this will be his 3rd fight (i think) since training with roach and in the first one against rothwell his hands looked great and much improved, but it seemed he took a step backwards for the nelson fight. Even though he got the KO, it didn't look as quick and clean than against rothwell....so it all depends which pitbull shows up i suppose.
  18. SouthCal21
    18. Posted by SouthCal21 Thu Sep 03, 2009 9:34 pm EDT

    Report Abuse

    nutcracker,
    no, i wasnt saying that you were being aggressive or harsh, i was simply implying that anytime boxing is brought up on this blog, it turns into a heated discussion...its fun to read for the most part...and forgive me if i got excited about the boxing blog...i hear you on the cofield point...i know for myself, its rare that i check it but when i see something new that doesnt have to do with the klitsch bros i tend to get excited about it....
  19. Ican2
    19. Posted by Ican2 Thu Sep 03, 2009 3:39 pm EDT

    Report Abuse

    Maybe it's stretch.. But if I was to pick a few guys that have pretty clean boxing he's be one of the guys I'd pick Not BJ or page yet..That's all
  20. Steven W
    20. Posted by Steven W Thu Sep 03, 2009 10:47 pm EDT

    Report Abuse

    Ican2....lady....lol, you really need some history on roach? he's plenty credible, i'm sure nut and any other boxing hacks might bash him for some reason, but i think just about any successful boxing trainer to cross over to train mma fighters would find that they have a world of skill to bring to the table...even if they didn't completely cut it in the boxing world. but roach....let's just say he's done pretty well for himself over the years. Trainer of the year 03, 06 and 07. Boxers to train under roach: toney, tyson, bhop, pacquiao, michael moorer, wladimir klitschko, dela hoya and more. inducted into the world boxing hall of fame, california boxing hall of fame and world boxing council lifetime achievement award.
    Enough for you?
  21. Nutcracker
    21. Posted by Nutcracker Thu Sep 03, 2009 8:22 pm EDT

    Report Abuse

    Southcal21..
    He sure did hammer home the farce of a fight between Valuev and Holyfield though didn't he?? Why doesn't he ever point that sharp wit at MMA and some of the UFC fights and fighters???
  22. Steven W
    22. Posted by Steven W Thu Sep 03, 2009 10:47 pm EDT

    Report Abuse

    oh and he also went 53-13 as a pro boxer....lost almost all of his high profile fights, but good nonetheless. nickname: la cucaracha!!!
  23. Ican2
    23. Posted by Ican2 Thu Sep 03, 2009 3:39 pm EDT

    Report Abuse

    Yes that's enough...damn that is a massive brain you weild...OK OK he's a decent trainer
  24. BearDown
    24. Posted by BearDown Thu Sep 03, 2009 8:23 pm EDT

    Report Abuse

    Fedor throws a combo, shoots and wins by armbar (after timing AA superior boxing.) I hate when "camps" try to hype things up.
  25. Ican2
    25. Posted by Ican2 Thu Sep 03, 2009 3:39 pm EDT

    Report Abuse

    Cucharcha???The Bug???Not very threatening...

Cagewriter

Add to My Yahoo! RSS

Steve Cofield

Cagewriter is an MMA blog edited by Steve Cofield. Email him, and follow him on Twitter.

Contributors:
Maggie Hendricks, Zak Jensen,

Related Photo Gallery

More MMA Photos »

Y! Sports Blogs

Cagewriter Recent Readers

(provided by MyBlogLog)