This interview was conducted on 07 Jan. 2004. Andrei Arlovski was getting ready to fight Tim Sylvia for the first time, and challenge for the UFC Heavyweight Championship at UFC 47. This interview was originally published at Scott Sonnon's "Full Circle" magazine, which is now "Circular Strength Magazine." Special thanks to Scott Sonnon and Nikolay Travkin for making this interview possible.

Wiggy: First of all, Andrei, thanks for taking time out of your busy schedule to talk with MMA Weekly.

AA: Thanks for inviting me.

Wiggy: You will be facing former UFC Heavyweight Champion Tim Sylvia at UFC 47 coming up this March. Will this fight be for the UFC Heavyweight title?

AA: Yes, the fight should be for the UFC Heavyweight title.

Wiggy: Tim Sylvia is somewhat known for his striking power. However, you’ve shown in your last two victories that you have pretty impressive KO power yourself. Will you stand and trade with Sylvia, or would you like to take the fight to the ground?

AA: I prefer not to open my cards now. I hope you understand me. I have what to oppose to Tim Sylvia in upcoming fight. We will see it during the fight

Wiggy: I understand completely – you don’t want to give your “playbook” away prior to your fight. Are you doing anything “different” or “special” in preparation for this fight?

AA: Not really. So far my preparations for latest fights gave good results. I don’t see why I need to change them.

Wiggy: Makes sense. Sylvia is one of the biggest fighters you've ever faced. Do you think his size will give you any trouble? Have you been able to find any training partners his size to work with?

AA: I have several partners of different sizes to work with. Will Sylvia’s size give me any trouble? I’m training hard in order not to have those troubles. You know - you can get troubles with opponents of any sizes if you will be not prepared for the fight.

Wiggy: You don't need to comment on Sylvia specifically, but what are your thoughts in general about steroids and other performance enhancing drugs in the fight world?

AA: My thoughts are very straight - steroids and other performance enhancing drugs must be NOT a part of training in the fight world; it’s bad stuff for fighters health, and for fight world in general.

Wiggy: Let’s look at your history a little. Didn’t you start training Sambo while at the academy to become a police officer? What led you to MMA?

AA: Yes, you are exactly right; I started to train in Sambo while I was at the Police Academy.
I became very interested in MMA when I was 20 years old. I was a World Sambo Champion, and I loved to watch MMA/NHB fights. I wanted to check myself if I could do it. So, in 1998 I decided to give a try.

Wiggy: I know I was surprised to find out that Nikolay Travkin was your co-manager (NOTE – Nikolay Travkin, partnered with well-known strength & conditioning coach Scott Sonnon, runs RMAX.tv – distributor of various martial arts and strength & conditioning products/materials, including Scott Sonnon’s Clubbells). How long have you known Nikolay?

AA: Yes, Nikolay Travkin is my co-manager. I have known him for 4 years.

Wiggy: As a strength coach, knowing that Nikolay is your co-manager, I have to ask – do you use Clubbells in your training?

AA: Clubbells are great pieces of fitness equipment. It is in my plans to start using them this month in my training.

Wiggy: You’re getting quite a following of fans on the Internet. Do you ever visit any of the MMA forums online?

AA: Yes, I do. I’m not chatting there yet though. I’m checking news on MMAWeekly.com regularly.

Wiggy: There is quite a bit going on in the Japanese MMA scene right now. Grossly mismatched fights, organizations trying to sign fighters to fight exclusively for them, fighters leaving one organization to fight for another…Coming from a fighter’s perspective, what is your opinion of all the “goings-on” over in Japan right now?

AA: I don’t have enough information to judge what’s going in the Japanese MMA scene. I concentrate my attention on UFC at this moment.

Wiggy: Is there anything else you’d like to add?

AA: I just would like to say “Thank you” to all my fans for their support. Look forward to see them at UFC 47.

Wiggy: Thanks for your time and good luck in your upcoming title fight!!

AA: You are very welcome; it was pleasure to answer your questions. And, thanks for wishing me good luck.