Former heavyweight champion Andrei Arlovski returns to the UFC after six years

Arlovski (photo) is back in the UFC. Photo: Disclosure/WSOF

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Andrei Arlovski is back in the UFC. The former heavyweight champion signed a new contract with the biggest MMA organization on the planet and will return to his old home after six years.

Currently 35 years old, the Belarusian was successful in his first stint in Ultimate, between 2000 and 2008. Arlovski accumulated victories over names like Ian Freeman, Vladimir Matyushenko, Fabricio Werdum and Tim Sylvia, the latter being his great rival in fights for the belt. He held the title for a year, between 2005 and 2006, having lost to Sylvia in a rematch.

His last fight in the UFC was in 2008, when he beat Jake O’Brien on the preliminary card of event number 82. Since then, Arlovski has had stints in events such as EliteXC, Affliction, Strikeforce, and, more recently, WSOF.

The news was given by UFC president, Dana White, through his Twitter.

Welcome back Andrei Arlovski!

- Dana White (@danawhite) April 24

"Welcome back, Andrei Arlovski! "

According to the American website “MMA Fighting”, the UFC's intention is to arrange a fight between Arlovski and Brendan Schaub, although nothing has yet been officially confirmed.