Former UFC heavyweight champion Andrei Arlovski is adding another chapter to his storied combat sports career.
The MMA legend is set to make his professional boxing debut on November 9 at the Nashville Municipal Auditorium, where he’ll face Nigerian reality star Kelz in a four-round bout under the Misfits Boxing banner. Arlovski, 46, left the UFC last year after his contract expired, wrapping up his tenure with a split decision loss to Martin Buday at UFC 303. While many expected retirement to follow, “The Pitbull” had other plans.
Since leaving the promotion, Arlovski has stayed active across different combat platforms — first earning a second-round stoppage over Terrance Hodges at DBX 1 in March, then knocking out Josh Copeland at BKFC 76 in June. Now, he’s putting the gloves back on to officially enter the professional boxing scene.
Kelz, best known for his appearance on Netflix’s “Too Hot To Handle” in 2020, has also been building a name in the influencer boxing world. He made his Misfits Boxing debut last year with a knockout victory over Big Tobz, followed by a unanimous decision loss to Chase DeMoor. The upcoming fight against Arlovski marks the biggest challenge of his young boxing career.
For Arlovski, this next step is less about proving anything and more about continuing his evolution as a fighter. The Belarusian-American has already done it all in MMA, from capturing the UFC interim heavyweight title at UFC 51 by submitting Tim Sylvia, to later being promoted to undisputed champion after defeating Justin Eilers. He returned to the UFC in 2014 after a six-year hiatus, earning notable wins over names like Frank Mir, Travis Browne, and Antonio Silva before enduring a late-career slump.
Despite the ups and downs, Arlovski remains one of the most respected veterans in combat sports. His willingness to adapt, from MMA to bare-knuckle to now professional boxing, shows his relentless drive and love for competition.
It’s unclear whether Arlovski’s Misfits Boxing deal is for one fight or multiple bouts, but one thing’s certain: the 46-year-old isn’t done yet. After decades in the fight game, Arlovski continues to embrace new challenges and prove why his name still commands respect in every arena he enters.
