Andrei Arlovski thanks Dana White and UFC for keeping UFC 232 intact, questions fighter complaints

When the Nevada State Athletic Commission refused to license Jon Jones for his UFC 232 rematch with Alexander Gustafsson, the UFC opted to move the entire UFC 232 card from Las Vegas to Los Angeles. This unprecedented move has caused headaches for some of the fighters on the UFC 232 bill, but Andrei Arlovski, who battles Walt Harris on the undercard, hasn’t been bothered by it.

Instead, Arlovski actually feels thankful toward Dana White and the UFC for finding a way to keep the UFC 232 card intact.

“I’m absolutely happy,” Arlovski told MMAjunkie on Thursday. “I’m happy first of all that the show wasn’t canceled. Even moved to LA, it’s like, at the end of the day, all fighters are fighting to make money, so I’m happy. Thanks Dana White, thanks UFC, thank you guys for coming. We’re going to have a great show on Saturday.

While Andre Arlovski understands why some fans are disappointed with the UFC’s choice to move UFC 232 from Las Vegas to Los Angeles, he questions the backlash from his fellow fighters. 

“I understand it’s bad for fans, for MMA fans,” Arlovski said. “But I don’t understand why fighters are bitching. Like, it’s definitely better to fight and make some money than to cancel the whole show, and you don’t know when you’re going to fight. So, I’m happy.”

“Of course it would be better to fight in Vegas because a lot of people bought tickets to come to Vegas to support, and not all of them can change tickets to come to LA, but listen, like I said, you have to be selfish and you have to fight and you have to make money,” he added “I’m a responsible person. I have family, so I have to pay bills. It’s better to fight than not fight.”

Do you agree with Andrei Arlovski on the UFC’s decision to move UFC 232?

This article first appeared on BJPENN.COM on 12/28/2018.