It might be time for Andrei Arlovski to retire. The former champion is mired in a five-fight losing streak, with four coming by some form of finish. At 38, “The Pitbull’s” chin is irreparably cracked, and it’s getting harder and harder to watch him get rendered unconscious by young lions using him as a stepping stone.
Perhaps this Saturday’s matchup against 26-year old Junior Albini will finally force Arlovski to realize it’s time to hang up the gloves. The Brazilian a young, hungry upstart who is coming off a first-round TKO win over big man Timothy Johnson. That really doesn’t bode well for Arlovski.
Let’s take a look at the UFC odds at BookMaker.eu and break down the matchup along with your betting options.
UFC Odds at BookMaker.eu
Andrei Arlovski +220
Junio Albini -280
Over/under 1.5 rounds, over +135, under -155
Matchup Preview
Almost all the things that Arlovski does well is negated by his inability to take a shot. Heavy hitters like Stipe Miocic, Alistair Overeem and Francis Ngannou, it almost seemed inevitable that he would get cracked. It’s unfortunate, because “The Pitbull” is still one of the division’s better athletes at age 38 and a very good boxer to boot.
Albini doesn’t have the knockout power that those killers do, so Arlovski should be able to take some risk. While Jackson-Wink has retooled his style to protect his chin, “The Pitbull” really has no teeth if he can’t be somewhat aggressive. When he’s comfortably flowing on offense, his punching combinations are clean, crisp and powerful - his chin might be gone, but his power is still there.
The Brazilian will probably be happy to oblige Arlovski in a standup battle. A solid kickboxer with accurate long-range striking, Albini proved that his power has to be respected when he knocked out Timothy Johnson in his UFC debut. Though he’s a bit hefty, the 26-year old moves well around the ring and can maintain a solid pace for three rounds.
Albini also has a tendency to start fast, with 11 of his 14 career wins coming in the first round. Fully confident in his submission game, he’ll often swing for the fences because he’s not worried about being taken down. While his work rate can drop if a quick finish doesn’t come, he’s just as dangerous in the third as he is in the first.
UFC Betting Tips
No matter how much Arlovski believes he still has what it takes, the reality is that he cannot be trusted anymore. While Albini might be a virtual unknown, he has the power to put guys away, the durability to take hits, and the cardio to go three rounds. That’s all you need to know.
UFC Odds Pick: Albini to win at
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UFC Fight Night 120 takes place on Saturday, November 11, 2017 at the TED Constant Convocation Center in Norfolk, Virginia. The main card airs live on FS1 starting 9 p.m. ET.
