Former UFC heavyweight champion Andrei Arlovski has addressed a viral backstage scuffle with Jack Doherty and friends at the Jake Paul vs Anthony Joshua fight, offering his version of events after footage circulated online.
The incident occurred at the Kaseya Center in Miami, where Arlovski crossed paths with YouTuber Jack Doherty following Joshua’s sixth-round knockout win over Paul.
Clips shared widely on social media appeared to show Arlovski striking members of Doherty’s entourage as the streamer retreated behind his security.
Arlovski initially declined to comment. He later responded directly on Instagram.
Andrei Arlovski gets in a fight backstage with Jack Doherty at Anthony Joshua vs Jake Paul😳‼️
(Via @violentnoise_ ) pic.twitter.com/E401JPnmlb
— Red Corner MMA (@RedCorner_MMA) December 20, 2025
What happened backstage
Doherty attended the Netflix event while livestreaming parts of the night with his crew. At some point backstage, he and Arlovski came into close contact.
Video showed a brief confrontation, with Arlovski throwing punches and kicks as security attempted to separate the groups.
Doherty later claimed Arlovski tried to kick him “for no reason” as he walked past and said that sparked the incident.
Arlovski rejected that version of events.
Arlovski’s account
“First of all I didn’t beat up anyone,” Arlovski said.
“I just stopped the threat. They were threatening me, my wife, my kid and I have another friend who was with his pregnant wife.”
Arlovski said his actions were about protection, not confrontation.
“I did what every man is supposed to do to stop the threat,” he said. “I guess they were looking for content for their website and I guess I was a victim.”
He suggested the group underestimated him.
“They thought maybe it was going to be easy content for YouTube – maybe because I’m old and maybe because it was three idiots and one big bodyguard.”
Arlovski also acknowledged that he was caught off guard at one point.
“He kind of landed one punch so I have to be more alert and pay more attention,” he said. “That’s a lesson. That guy, he was sneaky and he sucker punched me.”
‘I didn’t want to knock anybody out’
Arlovski said the situation could have escalated further but did not.
“It was a successful escape [for Jack],” he said. “He was successfully hiding and running away behind his bodyguard’s back. He did a great job.”
He credited his wife with helping to defuse the moment.
“Thanks to my wife because at some point she pulled me back and it didn’t go in a wrong direction.”
Arlovski insisted his intention was never to cause serious harm.
“I didn’t want to knock anybody out,” he said. “I just did everything possible to protect my family and stop the threat.”
