Fighting Tougher Than Any Opponent: Andrei Arlovski’s Cancer Story
Andrei Arlovski has spent most of his adult life selling toughness, but in a recent interview with Uncrowned he framed his biggest wins away from any belt: “I’m already a winner because I beat cancer three times.” The BKFC heavyweight champion and former UFC champion said those fights reshaped how he measures pressure, including in his latest high-profile win over Ben Rothwell.
“I Beat Cancer Three Times” Andrei Arlovski on Life, Losses, and BKFC Gold
Arlovski told Uncrowned his first cancer diagnosis came in June 2010, a second in 2013, and that a year before his latest interview a doctor at the University of Miami removed a tumor from his kidney and also removed 28 lymph nodes, after which Arlovski underwent chemotherapy.
He added that he had not been ready to speak publicly about the diagnoses for years, but changed his mind because he felt it was “what people need to hear.” “I got three wins against cancer, and now I’m ready to share my experience and my battle with the world,” Arlovski said.
The turning point, he explained, came during the hospital stay after the kidney surgery, when he was made to walk the halls and saw patients “young people, old people… dying,” a moment he called depressing and clarifying at the same time. Arlovski said he left with a simple takeaway: “If I can do it, a lot of other people can fight cancer too.” His message stayed consistent throughout the interview: “The most important thing is: never give up… Just keep fighting.”
That mindset bled into competition. “In my fight against Ben Rothwell, it didn’t really matter if I lost or won — and I won — because I’d already beaten cancer three times,” Arlovski said, before adding, “Like Nike says: just do it.” On Feb. 7, 2026, Arlovski did beat Rothwell, winning the BKFC heavyweight title at KnuckleMania VI via third-round TKO by doctor stoppage due to cuts.
Arlovski’s career context makes the health disclosure hit even harder. Born Feb. 4, 1979, Arlovski became a UFC heavyweight champion after winning the interim title against Tim Sylvia at UFC 51 in 2005 and later being recognized as the undisputed champion that year.
Across multiple UFC runs, he built a résumé long enough to set the promotion’s record for most heavyweight wins (23), a longevity marker in a division that rarely offers them. Now, at 47, he’s adding chapters in bare-knuckle boxing, and he’s choosing to attach a public purpose to them: “Guys, life is beautiful. Don’t give up… If you decide to go through it, you can do it and you can win the battle against cancer.”
