Arlovski apologizes for 'He's dead, I'm alive' remark about Anthony Johnson

Andrei Arlovski issued a public apology on Saturday after widespread backlash over a comment he made about the late Anthony Johnson, in which the former UFC heavyweight champion appeared to make light of his former opponent’s 2022 death.

The controversy began when a clip from an interview with David Guttman went viral. In it, Arlovski was discussing his 2013 World Series of Fighting loss to Johnson — a unanimous decision he still disputes — before adding: “I still think I won that fight, but unfortunately judges gave to him victory. But I win anyway, he’s dead, I’m alive.”

Johnson died in 2022 at the age of 38 from organ failure caused by non-Hodgkin lymphoma and an autoimmune disease. During his 15-year career, he twice challenged for the UFC light heavyweight title, losing both bouts to Daniel Cormier.

In a statement posted to Instagram, Arlovski — himself a three-time cancer survivor — insisted the remark was misunderstood and was never intended as a slight against Johnson or his family.

“When I said that I was still a winner because I’m alive today — YES!!! I never meant that his passing was somehow my victory,” Arlovski wrote. “I’ve fought cancer three times myself. Three times I had to face an opponent much bigger than anything I’ve ever faced inside the Octagon. And believe me — when you’ve been through something like that, you understand how precious life really is.”

The 47-year-old Belarusian also pointed to English being his second language as a factor in how the words landed. “Sometimes the words that come out of my mouth don’t fully express what’s in my heart or my head,” he wrote. “I take responsibility for how my words sounded… and I’m truly sorry to anyone I hurt or offended, especially Anthony’s family and loved ones.”

Arlovski closed by reframing his intended meaning: “What I was trying to say is that the greatest victory in life isn’t about winning a fight. It’s about being alive, being grateful and having another chance to wake up tomorrow morning.”

He acknowledged it was not the first time he had needed to apologise for a poorly chosen remark. Arlovski most recently competed in February, defeating Ben Rothwell at BKFC Knuckle Mania 6 to claim the promotion’s bare-knuckle boxing heavyweight title.