Ben Rothwell
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Name | Ben Rothwell |
| Nickname | Big Ben | |
| Association | Roufusport | |
| Weight Class | Heavyweight (264 lbs.) | |
| Height | 6' 5" (196 cm.) | |
| Style | Kickboxing | |
| Birth Date | October 17, 1981 | |
| Fighting Out Of | Milwaukee, Wisconsin | |
| Country | USA | |
| Ben Rothwell Pictures | Official Website |
Ben "Big Ben" Rothwell is an American mixed martial artist who competes as a heavyweight. He is currently signed to compete with the Ultimate Fighting Championship (UFC).
He trained full time at Miletich Martial Arts until his loss to Cain Velasquez, when he moved to train full time with a previous part-time trainer with Duke Roufus in Milwaukee, Wisconsin, at Roufusport.
Contents |
Professional Record
| Record | 32 - 9 - 0 (Win – Loss – Draw) |
| Wins | 18 (T)KOs 11 Submissions 3 Decisions |
| Losses | 4 (T)KOs 2 Submissions 3 Decisions |
| Result | Opponent | Method | Event Title | Date | Round | Time | Notes |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Loss | Gabriel Gonzaga | Submission (Guillotine Choke) | UFC on FX 7: Belfort vs. Bisping | 1/19/2013 | 2 | 1:01 | |
| Win | Brendan Schaub | KO (Punches) | UFC 145: Jones vs. Evans | 4/21/2012 | 1 | 1:10 | Won Knockout of the Night |
| Loss | Mark Hunt | Decision (Unanimous) | UFC 135: Jones vs. Rampage | 9/24/2011 | 3 | 5:00 | |
| Win | Gilbert Yvel | Decision (Unanimous) | UFC 115: Liddell vs. Franklin | 6/12/2010 | 3 | 5:00 | |
| Loss | Cain Velasquez | TKO (Punches) | UFC 104: Machida vs. Shogun | 10/24/2009 | 2 | 0:58 | |
| Win | Chris Guillen | Submission (Elbows) | AMMA 2: Adrenaline MMA 2 | 12/11/2008 | 1 | 3:40 | |
| Loss | Andrei Arlovski | KO (Punches) | Affliction: Banned | 7/19/2008 | 3 | 1:13 | |
| Win | Ricco Rodriguez | Decision (Unanimous) | IFL: 2007 Team Championship Final | 9/20/2007 | 3 | 4:00 | |
| Win | Krzysztof Soszynski | TKO (Punches) | IFL: 2007 Semifinals | 8/02/2007 | 1 | 0:13 | |
| Win | Travis Fulton | Submission (Kimura) | IFL: Chicago | 5/19/2007 | 2 | 3:11 | |
| Win | Roy Nelson | Decision (Split) | IFL: Moline | 4/07/2007 | 3 | 4:00 | |
| Win | Matt Thompson | TKO (Punches) | IFL: Houston | 2/02/2007 | 2 | 1:47 | |
| Win | Devin Cole | KO (Head Kick) | IFL: Championship Final | 12/29/2006 | 1 | 3:16 | |
| Win | Wojtek Kaszowski | Submission (Keylock) | IFL: World Championship Semifinals | 11/02/2006 | 1 | 3:14 | |
| Win | Bryan Vetell | KO (Punch) | IFL: Gracie vs. Miletich | 9/23/2006 | 1 | 3:17 | |
| Win | Krzysztof Soszynski | TKO (Punches) | IFL: Legends Championship 2006 | 4/29/2006 | 1 | 3:59 | IFL debut |
| Win | Dan Bobish | KO (Knee) | GFC: Team Gracie vs. Team Hammer House | 3/03/2006 | 1 | 4:20 | |
| Win | Joey Smith | Submission (Strikes) | ISCF: Gladiators X | 2/24/2006 | 1 | N/A | |
| Win | Don Richard | TKO | KOTC: Conquest | 12/03/2005 | 1 | 3:32 | |
| Win | Allan Weickert | TKO | GFS: Fight Nite in the Flats | 9/17/2005 | 1 | 3:45 | |
| Loss | Dan Christison | Submission (Kimura) | Euphoria: USA vs. World | 2/26/2005 | 3 | 0:57 | |
| Win | Jonathan Wiezorek | TKO (Punches) | Euphoria: Road to the Titles | 10/15/2004 | 1 | 1:09 | |
| Win | Matt Bear | Submission (Strikes) | UT: Ultimate Throwdown | 7/16/2004 | 1 | 2:57 | |
| Loss | Carlos Barreto | KO | Heat FC 1: Genesis | 7/31/2003 | N/A | N/A | |
| Win | Royce Louck | TKO (Cut) | FCC 11: Freestyle Combat Challenge 11 | 6/28/2003 | 1 | N/A | |
| Loss | Ibragim Magomedov | TKO | M-1 MFC: Russia vs. the World 4 | 11/15/2002 | 1 | 10:00 | |
| Win | Travis Fulton | Submission (Injury) | FCC 8: Freestyle Combat Challenge 8 | 10/04/2002 | N/A | N/A | |
| Win | Johnathan Ivey | TKO (Cut) | USMMA 2: Ring of Fury | 9/21/2002 | 1 | 1:14 | |
| Loss | Mike Whitehead | Decision (Unanimous) | SB 24: Return of the Heavyweights 2 | 4/27/2002 | 2 | 5:00 | |
| Win | Kerry Schall | TKO (Neck Injury) | SB 24: Return of the Heavyweights 2 | 4/27/2002 | 2 | 2:10 | |
| Win | Curtis Crawford | Submission (Choke) | SB 24: Return of the Heavyweights 1 | 4/26/2002 | 1 | 1:03 | |
| Win | Mike Priest | Submission | FCC 7: Freestyle Combat Challenge 7 | 3/23/2002 | 1 | N/A | |
| Win | Mike Radnov | TKO (Cut) | EC 46: Extreme Challenge 46 | 2/16/2002 | 1 | 5:54 | |
| Win | Kerry Schall | Submission (Broken Foot) | EC 46: Extreme Challenge 46 | 2/16/2002 | 1 | 7:29 | |
| Win | Mike Marshalleck | TKO | FCC 6: Freestyle Combat Challenge 6 | 1/05/2002 | 1 | 0:38 | |
| Win | Steve Hutson | Submission (Arm Triangle Choke) | SC 8: Fight Night | 11/10/2001 | 1 | 3:35 | |
| Loss | Tim Sylvia | Decision | EC 42: Extreme Challenge 42 | 8/24/2001 | 3 | 5:00 | |
| Win | Bill Billington | Submission (Knees) | IC 2: Iowa Challenge 2 | 8/11/2001 | 1 | 1:07 | |
| Win | Darren Block | KO | Dangerzone: Auburn | 4/28/2001 | 1 | 0:16 | |
| Win | Anthony Ferguson | TKO (Referee Stoppage) | Dangerzone: Auburn | 4/28/2001 | 1 | 1:00 | |
| Win | Rob Schinkle | TKO (Corner Stoppage) | FCC 3: Freestyle Combat Challenge 3 | 1/06/2001 | 1 | 0:21 | |
Biography
Rothwell began fighting in 1999 at the age of 17.
He trained under Pat Miletich at Miletich Fighting Systems as well as Duke Roufus in Wisconsin.
Rothwell cites his mother Victoria, a caterer, (who along with his father own and manage a historic restaurant) his wife, and his daughter as the most motivational people in his life.
On September 21, 2007 Rothwell beat Ricco Rodriguez in the IFL finals but the Silverbacks fell short of a victory and lost the championship to Renzo Gracie's Pitbulls.
Rothwell also holds a 3-0 record in professional kickboxing.
UFC Career
Rothwell then was expected to fight Chase Gormley at Affliction: Trilogy on August 1, 2009, but the event was cancelled when Josh Barnett, who was expected to fight WAMMA Heavyweight Champion Fedor Emelianenko, tested positive for anabolic steroids, and according to Tom Atencio, they just "didn't have enough time to promote a new fight to our standards." Shortly after the fall of Affliction, the UFC signed both Chase Gormley and Rothwell in order for the two to make their UFC debuts at UFC 104: Machida vs. Shogun. Instead of fighting Gormley, Rothwell made his debut with the promotion against Cain Velasquez. Velasquez used his superior wrestling to control Rothwell, ending the fight with a controversial stoppage at 0:58 of the second round.
After the tough loss to Velasquez, Rothwell left Miletich Martial Arts to train full time with Duke Roufus at Roufusport.
- "My training for this fight has changed, of course, following the October match with Cain Velasquez," Rothwell told MMAFighting.com, talking about his match-up with Mirko Filipovic. "I made a decision to pack my things up in Iowa and move back to Wisconsin. I moved my life back there and decided to train full-time with Duke Rufus. He's been a long-time part-time coach for me since 2003, but I've decided to move back to Wisconsin and have him be my full-time coach. There is a great team down there with lots of energy and excitement and it's been really good for me and my preparation for this fight. I wasn't getting everything I needed in Iowa and just felt I needed a change. "
Rothwell was expected to face Mirko Filipovic on February 20, 2010 at UFC 110: Nogueira vs. Velasquez, but was forced off the card only two days prior to the fight due to a stomach virus. Rothwell was replaced by Anthony Perosh on short notice, but both Filipovic and Rothwell were expected to face off when the appropriate time comes. In the end, the two were both scheduled to return at UFC 115: Liddell vs. Franklin, but not against one another, as Filipovic would face Pat Barry and Rothwell will fight Dutch striker Gilbert Yvel.
Though the two fighters were known for their striking, the bout became a sloppy grappling affair. The two continued a scramble on the floor for three frames, and each did land a handful of heavy shots on the feet. Still, the bout never looked close to ending, and Yvel never looked close to reversing the momentum. In the end, Rothwell was awarded the Decision (Unanimous) with scores of 30-27, 30-28 and 29-28.
Personal Life
Ben is married to Jennifer DeBoer and has a daughter, Alexis.
