Former UFC heavyweight champion Andrei Arlovski was spotted chucking knuckles at broccoli-headed influencers following Friday’s Anthony Joshua vs. Jake Paul boxing match. Now, he’s explained why.

According to Arlovski, influencer Jack Doherty and his crew, including a large body guard, initiated the physical altercation that resulted in punches. Arlovski said Sunday on Instagram that he was just protecting himself and his people.

“First of all, I didn’t beat anyone (up),” Arlovski said. “I just stopped the threat. Someone threatened me, my wife, my kid, and I have another friend and his wife. I did what I was supposed to do and what every man is supposed to do: stop the threat.”

Doherty has denied being the instigator and said Arlovski kicked him as the two crossed paths in the concourse at Kaseya Center in Miami.

“How did I start the Andrei Arlovski fight?” Doherty wrote Saturday on X. “Watch the video u old twitter fucks u guys just point the finger at the kid who’s half ur age and way richer than u I would do the same tho.”

The incident was caught on video. However, it was a live stream, which lagged right at the point that the two first crossed paths. Multiple angles however show Arlovski as he traded blows with two influencers, as Doherty hid behind his hulking body guard.

Doherty has a history of shouldering random passer-bys as one of his repeating content schticks. Arlovski thinks this time it just happened to be a former UFC champion.

“I guess because they were looking for content for their website. I guess I was a victim,” Arlovski said. “… They thought maybe it was going to be easy content for YouTube. Maybe that’s why. Maybe I’m old. Maybe because it’s three idiots and a big body guard. It’s kind of weird because I saw him walking but I didn’t pay attention that he might be with them. He kind of landed one punch. So I have to be more alert and pay attention to people who are around. That’s the lesson. … That guy was sneaky. He sucker punched me and I didn’t expect his sucker punch to be honest with you. “

While many viewers of the footage praised Arlovski for his actions, some still said there was something to be desired when it came to Doherty. Arlovski tipped his cap to the most well-known influencer of the bunch for his ability to scurry away from danger.

“It was a successful escape,” Arlovski said. “He was successfully hiding and running away behind his body guard. He did a great job.”