Arlovski erases bad memory with KO

Former UFC heavyweight champion Andrei Arlovski’s return to the organization in June after more than six years competing in other promotions didn’t exactly conjure up memories of the title reign of a man who once was one of the most intimidating in the sport.

While Arlovski was able to squeak out a split decision victory over Brendan Schaub, the fight featured little action and has been widely panned as one of the most boring of the year.

Arlovski erased that memory on Saturday with a first-round knockout of Antonio “Bigfoot” Silva, the fourth-ranked contender in the heavyweight division, in the main event of UFC Fight Night 51 in Brasilia, Brazil.

The 35-year-old held the UFC belt nearly 10 years ago. He lost it to Tim Sylvia in 2006, then lost a rematch. Arlovski bounced back with three straight wins, but left the UFC in 2008 when his contract expired and he was unable to come to terms on a new deal.

He spent the next few years bouncing around just about every organization that popped up and landed at trainer Greg Jackson’s camp in Albuquerque, N.M., to start rebuilding his game with the long-term goal of becoming a UFC champion once again.

Arlovski said re-signing with the UFC was a big step in that process and the moment may have gotten to him in that June fight.

“My manager repeated to me over and over, ‘One step at a time,’” Arlovski said after the victory on Saturday. “(The Schaub bout) was a very important fight for me. It was my second debut in the UFC, and of course, I was very nervous. One step at a time.”

Saturday’s win was another big step. Not only was a spectacular knockout of one of the top contenders in the division, but it was vindication for a decision loss to Silva on a Strikeforce card in 2010.

“It was very important for me,” Arlovski said. “I definitely wanted to knock him out. Nothing personal.”

Arlovski now has two straight wins in the UFC heavyweight division and the kind of name recognition that enables fighters to quickly move up the ranks.

He was flagged by the athletic commission in Brazil for a wrist injury that he’ll need to have cleared before he can compete again, but Arlovski is quickly back in the mix in a division with few true contenders to Cain Velasquez’s title.

Arlovski is still taking it slowly, however.

“I know I still have a lot to work on,” he said. “I think when I get back to the gym Coach Jackson is going to give me a lot of instructions.”

Silva said he feels Arlovski, who was outside the top ten in the UFC’s official rankings, should be in the top five after his performance on Saturday night.

He also didn’t discount the possibility of breaking the tie between the two down the road.

“It happens,” he said of the knockout loss. “Obviously we never want to lose, but with heavyweights a hand can land and that can decide a fight. I want to congratulate him, we’re 1-1 right now and who knows, maybe we’ll do it again some time.”

UFC RETURNS TO JAPAN — A pair of Las Vegans will be in action when the UFC returns to Japan for an event on Saturday in Saitama.

Cimarron-Memorial alum Roy Nelson will fight Mark Hunt in the heavyweight main event. Nelson knocked out Antonio Rodrigo Nogueira in the first round of an April bout to snap a two-fight losing streak and set up what figures to be a slugfest with Hunt. Nelson and Hunt are widely lauded for their incredible chins and headhunting mentality, setting up what is likely to be an entertaining stylistic matchup.

Miesha Tate, a recent transplant to Las Vegas and one of the top contenders in the women’s bantamweight division, will take on UFC newcomer Rin Nikai.

Also, unbeaten lightweight Myles Jury will fight Japanese legend Takanori Gomi.

The event will stream exclusively on UFC’s online platform, Fight Pass.

ST. PIERRE UPDATE — The fighting future of former UFC welterweight champion Georges St. Pierre has been the source of constant speculation since the 33-year-old announced he would vacate the belt and take an indefinite leave of absence from the sport last December.

Recent reports from his camp have indicated there is a possibility St. Pierre may be able to resume training in October after a knee injury earlier this year and he may want to return sometime in 2015.

UFC president Dana White said St. Pierre can decide what he would like to do if and when he returns.

“GSP can do whatever he wants,” White told UFC.com. “If he wants to come back and fight for the title, or if he wants a fight before that, he can do whatever he wants.”

Johny Hendricks currently holds the belt St. Pierre vacated.

WSOF 13 RESULTS — World Series of Fighting bantamweight champion Marlon Moraes submitted Cody Bollinger Saturday night in the second round of the main event of the WSOF 13 card in Bethlehem, Pa.

The belt was not on the line in the fight that was announced as a catchweight bout because Bollinger was brought in on such short notice.

The Las Vegas-based organization will hold its next card in Edmonton, Alberta, Canada on Oct. 11.

Contact reporter Adam Hill at ahill@reviewjournal.com or 702-224-5509. Follow him on Twitter: @adamhilllvrj.