The action inside the Octagon last evening may have left a little to be desired, but two series events that played out after the fights were all concluded would’ve left any mixed martial fans beaming with pride for their sport.
 

Barnett goes to bat for Arlovski

Having suffered his third-straight defeat in the Octagon, the inevitable question of whether Andre Arlovski was finished with the sport was always going to arise in the post-fight press conference.

“Now I’m going to take some time off and I’m going to come back stronger,” Arlovski said. “At least he didn’t knock me out, he choked me. He has great wrestling skills. He was the better man tonight—thank you Josh for the fight. It’s totally up to my managers what is next for me and up to the UFC.”

After Arlovski’s understandably glum response, the man he’d shared the Octagon with just one hour earlier, Josh Barnett, interjected with some kind words and served up some truths about the Belarusian’s recent record.



Sep 3, 2016; Hamburg, Germany; Josh Barnett (blue gloves) competes against Andrei Arlovski (red gloves) during UFC Fight Night at Barclaycard Arena. Mandatory Credit: Per Haljestam-USA TODAY Sports

“I would just like to add one thing,” Barnett said. “I know Andrei did lose tonight, but it’s not just about winning or losing out here. If you look at all the people he’s fought over the years and who I’ve fought over the years—we have wins and losses against all-time greats.

“It’s not just so trivial—you know what I mean. One of his losses was against Overeem who is in a title fight and then Stipe who is the champion. It’s not like we are going out there and fighting the ‘Bum Of The Month Club'. We are going out there and fighting the best out there that the world can provide so if we lose a few it happens.

"Who else is capable of going out there and meeting that type of competition time and time again?”

After Barnett had finished, Arlovski picked up the microphone again and after respectfully nodding in the direction of Barnett, he said: “great speech.” 

The two shook hands with a smile in what was a nice moment between two veterans who deservedly received another round of applause for their show of sportsmanship and professionalism.

Gustafsson and Blachowicz share a nice moment post-fight in the hotel

Following the post-fight press conference, the fighters returned to the host hotel in Hamburg and proceeded to toast a good night of work in Germany in the hotel bar.

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A nice moment away from the cameras occurred when the co-main event participants Alexander Gustafsson and Jan Blachowicz met at the bar and proceeded to toast a beer as everyone around applauded.

The fight didn’t exactly have much spice heading into it and neither was it really all that entertaining. Regardless, it was still good to see the two men show respect for one another afterward despite having only been at war just a matter of hours earlier. The sport could do with more men like Gustafsson and Blachowicz.