Given Arlovski's punching speed and potency, it seems that he's going to rely on his fists to wear down Emelianenko. But if he's expecting one punch dominance, as he did against Buentello and Sylvia 1, he should go back to the drawing board.
If there's an area Arlovski needs to polish, it's his Jiu Jitsu and Sambo skills.
In his fight against Roy Nelson, Nelson left some doubts about Arlovski's Sambo laurels. Nelson made the World Sambo Championship silver medalist look as bad on the ground as Arlovski made Nelson look on his feet.
The fight drew sided opinions because of the apparently inappropriate stand-up from the EliteXC ref who negated Roy Nelson's progress on the ground, possibly saving Arlovski from a submission loss.
Not only is Fedor's Jiu Jitsu better than Nelson's, he's stronger and has better fortitude than Nelson. Where Nelson crumbled under Arlovski's vicious combinations, expect Fedor to rise to the occassion; in fact, expect Fedor to trade with Arlovski.
It may be that Arlovski is looking to be elusive and counter-punch against Fedor, possibly opening up an opportunity to score a few combinations. Arlovski creates angles that other fighters can't, purely based on his quick footwork. And his heavy hands have suprised fighters again and again...
It's highly unlikely that Arlovski will knock out Emelianenko, but it's very possible.
He looks hungry and determined. He looks like he wants to solidify his place as a credible contendor and diminish the thought that he's a prey to the whims of his youth.
He looks like a naturally-gifted fighter who wants to fight his fight.
As wishy-washy as Arlovski is and has been in the past, his recent win over Roy Nelson, which tops off a five fight winning streak, reeks of the old Pitbull who fought like a passionate, intelligent Rus.
Let's hope the old Arlovski comes to the ring, and that the other Arlovski, the over-cautious "I-don't-wanna-get-knocked-out" stays in his dog house. Otherwise, Arlovski's MMA days may be over.
Fight Prediciton: long-shot for Arlovski win by decision or TKO; easy, but time-consuming win for Emelianenko TKO.
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