Arlovski Apologises After Johnson Comment Backlash

Andrei Arlovski has apologised for saying he's a winner over the late Anthony Johnson because he's still alive, though the former UFC heavyweight champion also fired back at critics who slammed the comment as hateful.

Arlovski made the remark during an interview with David Guttman while discussing his 2013 loss to Johnson under the World Series of Fighting banner, per BJPenn.com. Johnson won that fight by unanimous decision and broke Arlovski's jaw, though the Belarusian told Guttman he believed he deserved the nod. Arlovski then added that he felt like a winner anyway since he's alive and Johnson passed away in 2022 from non-Hodgkin's lymphoma.

Arlovski Defends Cancer Comment While Apologising

After the clip went viral, Arlovski posted an apology on Instagram but also told critics to check themselves. He clarified that he never meant Johnson's death was somehow his victory, writing that he has fought cancer three times himself. "When you've been through something like that, you understand how precious LIFE really is," he wrote, according to the report.

Some fans rejected the explanation. One Instagram user described the original comment as hateful, while others said they had lost respect for the 46-year-old known as Pitbull. Arlovski opened his post by cursing out haters for digging to find something bad, though he also acknowledged the situation was a lesson about reviewing interviews before they go live.

The Belarusian veteran is scheduled to make his professional boxing debut at an upcoming Misfits Boxing card after two decades in mixed martial arts.

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• BJPenn — Andrei Arlovski addresses ‘hateful’ comment towards late Anthony Johnson: “I have to apologize for saying something wrong”