Three-Time Cancer Survivor Andrei Arlovski Wins BKFC Heavyweight Title

Andrei Arlovski fights and wins again. On February 7, 2026, the 47-year-old Belarusian-American mixed martial artist cemented his legacy in a new arena, dominating former champion Ben Rothwell to capture the Bare Knuckle Fighting Championship (BKFC) Heavyweight Title.

Just days before the fight, he shared that he had survived cancer 3 times.

Arlovski had previously won Rothwell twice, once in 2008 at Affliction: Banned and another in 2019 at the UFC. Ahead of their highly anticipated clash at BKFC KnuckleMania 6, Arlovski and Rothwell traded respect and personal reflections during a press conference. While “The Pitbull” expressed excitement for the match, Rothwell took a more pragmatic view, noting how their longstanding rivalry has been a lucrative engine for both their careers.

When the 2 titans finally stepped into the Squared Circle at the Xfinity Mobile Arena, Philadelphia, Arlovski demonstrated that his renewed fire was beyond pre-fight rhetoric. In a dominant display of technical precision, Arlovski secured a technical knockout via doctor stoppage. His stinging jabs opened a deep gash on Rothwell’s head, and the ringside physician determined the injury too severe to continue by the 1:14 mark of round 3.

The former UFC Heavyweight Champion, who boasts a storied record of 23 wins in the Octagon, proved his strength translates perfectly to the Squared Circle.

In a post-fight interview and in line with World Cancer Day, Arlovski delivered an emotional message of encouragement to cancer patients and survivors. He urged, “most important, guys, people who (are) in the battle right now with the f***ing cancer, don’t f***ing give up. I’m a great f***ing example, 3 times cancer survivor. Keep f***ing fight. Life is beautiful.”

In a follow-up appearance on The Ariel Helwani Show, Arlovski shared more details about his cancer journey. He revealed the extent of his treatment, which included chemotherapy, the surgical removal of a kidney tumor, and the extraction of 28 lymph nodes.

Arlovski remained steadfast in his message to others facing cancer, exhorting, “Guys, life is beautiful. Don’t give up… Doctor has a lot of ways to treat you right and keep you alive. It’s everything in your head. If you decided to go through, you can do it and you can be a winner of the battle against cancer.”

Arlovski launched The Arlovski Method recently, a coaching program designed for physical fitness and mental resilience. Beyond the fighting ring, he is also an actor, appearing in films like The Equalizer 2 and Universal Soldier, as well as the TV series Limitless.