Tim Sylvia appeared to be close to signing with Strikeforce two weeks ago, but it didn’t happen and the former UFC heavyweight champion will meet Andrei Arlovski at ONE FC 5: Pride of a Nation on August 31st.
FIGHT CARD UPDATE:Former UFC Champion Andrei Arlovski vs Former UFC Champion Tim Sylvia at ONE FC: Pride of a Nation on Aug 31 in Manila
— ONE FC (@ONEFCMMA) August 3, 2012
Arlovski (17-9) was originally scheduled to meet Soa “The Hulk” Palelei. “The Hulk” wrote on Twitter that the fight with Arlovski did not happen because ONE FC wanted him to sign a five fight deal for the fight to happen.
Arlovski is currently on a two fight winning streak after losing four fights in a row. After he had lost four straight fights, many people believe it was time for him to call it a career. His two most recent wins have come in Pro Elite and both of the wins have come by knockout.
Sylvia (31-7) is currently on a three fight winning streak and has won seven of his last eight fights. It was rumored that Sylvia could be heading to Strikeforce, but that did not happen. Since being released by the UFC, most of his fights have been in the super heavyweight division. However, his last two fights have been in the heavyweight division and his goal is to make it back to the UFC.
This will be the fourth fight between the two heavyweight fighters and Sylvia has taken two of the first three fights. Arlovski won the first fight by submission at UFC 51 and Sylvia won the other two fights.
ONE FC 5:Pride of a Nation takes place on August 31st from the Smart Araneta Coliseum in the Philippines. The fight card will include MMA veterans Shinya Aoki, Bibiano Fernandes and Jens Pulver.