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Ben Rothwell
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Ben Rothwell (born October 17, 1981) is an American mixed martial artist and bare-knuckle boxer who competes as a Heavyweight and is the current BKFC Heavyweight World Champion. He most notably had a 17 bout stint in the Ultimate Fighting Championship and competed for the Quad Cities Silverbacks of the IFL where he held an undefeated 9–0 record before leaving the promotion due to a contract dispute. He has also had one-fight stints in Affliction, M-1 Global, and King of the Cage. He also competed for the World Series of Fighting and Absolute Championship Berkut.
Key Information
Since his departure from the UFC in 2022, Rothwell has competed in the Heavyweight division of the Bare Knuckle Fighting Championship, where he is the current BKFC Heavyweight Champion. As of October 5th 2025, he is #3 (in BKFC this is actually the 4th ranked fighter) in the men's pound-for-pound rankings.[3]
Background
[edit]Rothwell is from Kenosha, Wisconsin, and both of his parents work in the restaurant business. His parents own a catering company. He is of Norwegian and Irish descent.[4] Rothwell was an active child but suffered a bout with spinal meningitis when he was six years old. He was in a coma and temporarily blind, while the disease made him almost obese. The young Rothwell, who struggled with his weight and identity in his adolescent years, was also troubled growing up and was often involved in fighting and violence at Westosha Central High School in Paddock Lake. By the time he was a junior in high school, Rothwell knew that he enjoyed fighting, and in 1999, at the age of 17, he began learning self-defense. In July of that same year, after he had been in three professional fights, he and a friend were involved in a car accident with a drunk driver. Rothwell's friend, who was 19 years old, died two weeks later, and Rothwell suffered a significant head injury, in addition to broken ribs. The event changed Rothwell's life, causing him to feel as though he has a purpose to complete.[5]
Mixed martial arts career
[edit]Early career
[edit]Rothwell began his training in September 1999, before joining Miletich Fighting Systems in 2002.
Rothwell made his professional debut in early 2001 in his home state of Wisconsin and dominated his opponent, winning by TKO only 21 seconds into the fight. He then won his next three fights, all under two minutes into the first round and all with strikes. Rothwell then faced future two-time UFC Heavyweight Champion and fellow Miletich Fighting Systems fighter, Tim Sylvia. Rothwell was handed his first career loss in a decision. However, he bounced back and won his next seven fights, all by submission or TKO, before a unanimous decision loss to Mike Whitehead.
After defeating former King of the Cage Super Heavyweight Champion, Dan Bobish by knockout, Rothwell was soon invited to compete in the International Fight League to fight for the Quad City Silverbacks, coached by the legendary Pat Miletich. Like several other fighters in the promotion, Rothwell was competing for the coach who he trained regularly.
International Fight League
[edit]On April 29, 2006, Rothwell made his IFL debut against future UFC veteran, the Polish-Canadian fighter, Krzysztof Soszynski. In the first round, Soszynski surprisingly decided to exchange strikes with Rothwell, and landed a left uppercut and held his own until he was knocked down by a short left hook from Rothwell, who then slammed Soszynski to the canvas. After working from side control and then standing again, Rothwell landed a series of punches at the end of the round, that knocked down Soszynski, and then followed this up with more punches to his downed opponent. Despite the round ending, referee Dan Miragliotta called a stop to the contest, granting Rothwell the win via TKO.
After racking up four consecutive IFL wins, he fought future The Ultimate Fighter: Heavyweights winner and IFL Heavyweight Champion Roy Nelson, winning via split decision.
His next fight was a rematch from almost five years earlier against veteran Travis Fulton, owner of 195 career victories. Three minutes into the second round, Rothwell secured a kimura, causing Fulton to submit.
Rothwell then met Krzysztof Soszynski in a rematch of his IFL debut. Rothwell once again won via TKO, only 13 seconds into the bout.
His last fight in the IFL came against former UFC Heavyweight Champion, Ricco Rodriguez in the team finals. After controlling the fight and displaying superior striking, Rothwell won the fight via unanimous decision. However, the Silverbacks fell short of a victory and lost the championship to Renzo Gracie's New York Pitbulls. This was Rothwell's last appearance in the IFL, as he eventually left the organization due to a contract dispute.
During his time in the IFL, Rothwell had a 9–0 record.[6]
Affliction
[edit]After leaving the IFL, Rothwell joined Affliction where he appeared in only one bout, against former UFC Heavyweight Champion Andrei Arlovski, Rothwell lost the fight via knockout due to an uppercut in the final round. This ended Rothwell's 13-fight win streak and gave him his first defeat in over three years.
Ultimate Fighting Championship
[edit]Rothwell made his UFC debut on October 24, 2009, at UFC 104 against undefeated Cain Velasquez losing via TKO one minute into round two. The stoppage was controversial because Rothwell seemed to be getting to his feet as Steve Mazzagatti stopped the fight. Rothwell was visibly upset with Mazzagatti's decision to stop the fight.[7] After the fight, UFC president Dana White stated that Mazzagatti was the "worst referee in the history of combat sports".
Rothwell was expected to face Mirko Filipović on February 21, 2010, at UFC 110.[8] However, Rothwell had to withdraw from the event, just days prior, due to an illness and was replaced by Anthony Perosh.[9]
Rothwell then fought Gilbert Yvel on June 15, 2010, at UFC 115 where he won by unanimous decision (30–27, 29–28, and 29–28).[10] Rothwell tore his ACL during his first takedown attempt, which required post-fight surgery.[11] Rothwell also suffered a deviated septum from a head kick during the first round.[12]
After an extended layoff, Rothwell fought Mark Hunt on September 24, 2011, at UFC 135.[13] He lost the fight via unanimous decision.
Rothwell then faced Brendan Schaub on April 21, 2012, at UFC 145. He won the fight via knockout in round one. Rothwell also earned Knockout of the Night honors for his performance.[14]
Rothwell was expected to face Travis Browne at UFC on Fox: Shogun vs. Vera, but pulled out due to an injury[15]
Rothwell faced Gabriel Gonzaga on January 19, 2013, at UFC on FX: Belfort vs. Bisping[16] He lost the fight via submission in the second round.
Rothwell faced Brandon Vera at UFC 164 on August 31, 2013.[17] He won the fight via TKO by punches in round three. Subsequent to the bout, Rothwell tested positive for elevated testosterone levels. The UFC suspended Rothwell for nine months, despite the Wisconsin commission only issuing him with an administrative warning.[18]
Rothwell was briefly linked to a bout with Ruslan Magomedov for on August 30, 2014, at UFC 177.[19] However, on July 9, the UFC announced he would face Alistair Overeem on September 5, 2014, at UFC Fight Night 50.[20] Rothwell won the fight via TKO in the first round.[21] The win also earned Rothwell his first Performance of the Night bonus award.[22]
Rothwell faced Matt Mitrione on June 6, 2015, at UFC Fight Night 68.[23] He won the fight via submission in the first round, the first submission win of his UFC career.[24]
Rothwell was expected to face Stipe Miocic on October 24, 2015, at UFC Fight Night 76.[25] However, Miocic pulled out of the fight on October 13 citing injury.[26] Subsequently, Rothwell was removed from the card the following day after the promotion deemed that a suitable opponent could not be arranged on short notice.[27]
Rothwell next faced Josh Barnett on January 30, 2016, at UFC on Fox 18.[28] He won the fight in the second round due to a guillotine choke, making Rothwell the only fighter to ever stop Barnett with a submission hold during Barnett's lengthy MMA career.[29] The win also earned Rothwell his second Performance of the Night bonus award.[30]
Rothwell faced Junior dos Santos on April 10, 2016, at UFC Fight Night 86.[31] He lost the fight via unanimous decision.[32]
Rothwell was expected to face Fabrício Werdum on September 10, 2016, at UFC 203.[33] However, Rothwell pulled out of the fight on August 11 citing a knee injury and was replaced by Travis Browne.[34][35]
The bout with Werdum was rescheduled and expected to take place on May 13, 2017, at UFC 211.[36] However, the bout was canceled due to Rothwell failing a drug test. On April 6, 2018, it was announced Rothwell had accepted a two-year suspension from USADA, retroactive to February 6, 2017.[37]
Having served his suspension, Rothwell returned to face Blagoy Ivanov on March 9, 2019, at UFC Fight Night 146.[38] He lost the fight by unanimous decision.[39]
A rematch with Andrei Arlovski took place on July 20, 2019, at UFC on ESPN 4.[40] He lost the fight via unanimous decision.[41]
Rothwell faced Stefan Struve on December 7, 2019, at UFC on ESPN 7.[42] He won the fight via technical knockout in round two.[43] The finish was controversial as Rothwell had accidentally hit Struve in the groin twice and was docked one point for these infractions in the second round. The referee encouraged the compromised Struve to continue, resulting in a finish for Rothwell late in the second round.[44]
Rothwell was scheduled to face Gian Villante on April 18, 2020, at UFC 249.[45] However, the event and Rothwell's scheduled bout against Villante was canceled due to the COVID-19 pandemic.[46]
Rothwell faced Ovince Saint Preux at UFC Fight Night: Smith vs. Teixeira on May 13, 2020.[47] He won the fight via split decision.[48]
Rothwell faced Marcin Tybura on October 11, 2020 at UFC Fight Night 179.[49] He lost the fight via unanimous decision.[50]
Rothwell was scheduled to face Philipe Lins on March 13, 2021, at UFC Fight Night 187.[51] However, during the week leading up to the event the bout was removed from the card due to undisclosed reasons. The pairing remained intact and [52] the bout was rescheduled on May 8, 2021, at UFC on ESPN 24.[53] While Rothwell made weight without issue, Lins never showed up to the weigh-ins and withdrew from the bout due to an illness.[54] The bout was rescheduled again for May 22, 2021, at UFC Fight Night: Font vs. Garbrandt.[55] However, yet again, Lins was pulled from the event for undisclosed reason and he was replaced by newcomer Askhar Mozharov.[56] Just hours later, the Ukrainian announced he would not be able to get a visa in time for the event,[57] and he was replaced by Chris Barnett.[58] He won the fight via guillotine choke submission in the second round.[59]
Rothwell faced Marcos Rogério de Lima on November 13, 2021, at UFC Fight Night 197.[60] After Rothwell was stunned multiple times on the feet, referee Herb Dean stepped in to stop the fight, though he allowed Rothwell to attempt a takedown before officially calling off the fight as a TKO win for Lima.[61]
Rothwell was scheduled to face Alexander Gustafsson on May 21, 2022, at UFC Fight Night 206.[62] However, at the end of March, it was announced that Rothwell asked for his release and it was granted from the UFC.[63]
Bare-knuckle boxing
[edit]Bare Knuckle Fighting Championship
[edit]On April 25, 2022, it was announced that Rothwell joined Bare Knuckle Fighting Championship.[64] He won his first two fights with the promotion.[65]
In his third fight for the promotion, Rothwell was scheduled to face Todd Duffee at BKFC 56 on December 2, 2023. However, on November 30, it was announced the bout was cancelled due to Rothwell having an illness.[66] The fight against Duffee was rescheduled for BKFC Knucklemania IV in Los Angeles on April 27, 2024.[67] Rothwell won the fight by technical knockout after Duffee was knocked down and injured in the first round.[68]
Rothwell competed for the BKFC Heavyweight Championship against champion Mick Terrill on January 25, 2025 at BKFC Knucklemania V.[69] He won the championship by knockout in the first round.[70] This fight earned him another Knockout of the Night award.[71]
Rothwell was scheduled to face Alex Simon at BKFC 79 at RAC Arena in Perth, Australia, on July 19, 2025.[72][73] However, the event was removed for unknown reasons.
Personal life
[edit]Rothwell attended Waukesha County Technical College, where he earned a technical degree in collision repair. Aside from working at his parents' restaurant, he also worked at a body shop and as a labor union construction worker in Chicago, Illinois.[74]
Rothwell is married and has a daughter and a son, Odin (born 2021).[75] Currently, Rothwell and his wife own Rothwell Mixed Martial Arts in Kenosha, Wisconsin. Rothwell MMA, established in 2011, teaches MMA, kickboxing, boxing, Muay Thai, Brazilian jiu-jitsu, wrestling, self-defense, yoga, and fitness to children and adults of all ages and experience levels. Rothwell is also the head coach for an MMA competition team of 30 amateur and professional MMA fighters. They often compete as a team at Wisconsin Xtreme Cage Fighting (WXCF) events at Racine Memorial Hall.
Championships and accomplishments
[edit]Mixed martial arts
[edit]- Ultimate Fighting Championship
- Knockout of the Night (One time) vs. Brendan Schaub[14]
- Performance of the Night (Two times) vs. Alistair Overeem, Josh Barnett[22][30]
- UFC.com Awards
- 2014: Ranked #5 Upset of the Year vs. Alistair Overeem[76]
- 2016: Submission of the Year vs. Josh Barnett[77]
- United States Mixed Martial Arts
- USMMA Heavyweight Championship (One time; first)[78]
- MMADNA.nl
- 2016 Submission of the Year vs. Josh Barnett[79]
Bare-knuckle boxing
[edit]- Bare Knuckle Fighting Championship
- BKFC World Heavyweight Championship (One time, current)
- Knockout of the Night (Two times) vs. Bobo O'Bannon and Mick Terrill[80][71]
Mixed martial arts record
[edit]| 53 matches | 39 wins | 14 losses |
| By knockout | 28 | 5 |
| By submission | 7 | 2 |
| By decision | 4 | 7 |
| Res. | Record | Opponent | Method | Event | Date | Round | Time | Location | Notes |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Loss | 39–14 | Marcos Rogério de Lima | TKO (punches) | UFC Fight Night: Holloway vs. Rodríguez | November 13, 2021 | 1 | 0:32 | Las Vegas, Nevada, United States | |
| Win | 39–13 | Chris Barnett | Submission (guillotine choke) | UFC Fight Night: Font vs. Garbrandt | May 22, 2021 | 2 | 2:07 | Las Vegas, Nevada, United States | |
| Loss | 38–13 | Marcin Tybura | Decision (unanimous) | UFC Fight Night: Moraes vs. Sandhagen | October 11, 2020 | 3 | 5:00 | Abu Dhabi, United Arab Emirates | |
| Win | 38–12 | Ovince Saint Preux | Decision (split) | UFC Fight Night: Smith vs. Teixeira | May 13, 2020 | 3 | 5:00 | Jacksonville, Florida, United States | |
| Win | 37–12 | Stefan Struve | TKO (punches) | UFC on ESPN: Overeem vs. Rozenstruik | December 7, 2019 | 2 | 4:57 | Washington, D.C., United States | |
| Loss | 36–12 | Andrei Arlovski | Decision (unanimous) | UFC on ESPN: dos Anjos vs. Edwards | July 20, 2019 | 3 | 5:00 | San Antonio, Texas, United States | |
| Loss | 36–11 | Blagoy Ivanov | Decision (unanimous) | UFC Fight Night: Lewis vs. dos Santos | March 9, 2019 | 3 | 5:00 | Wichita, Kansas, United States | |
| Loss | 36–10 | Junior dos Santos | Decision (unanimous) | UFC Fight Night: Rothwell vs. dos Santos | April 10, 2016 | 5 | 5:00 | Zagreb, Croatia | |
| Win | 36–9 | Josh Barnett | Submission (guillotine choke) | UFC on Fox: Johnson vs. Bader | January 30, 2016 | 2 | 3:48 | Newark, New Jersey, United States | Performance of the Night. Submission of the Year. |
| Win | 35–9 | Matt Mitrione | Submission (guillotine choke) | UFC Fight Night: Boetsch vs. Henderson | June 6, 2015 | 1 | 1:54 | New Orleans, Louisiana, United States | |
| Win | 34–9 | Alistair Overeem | TKO (punches) | UFC Fight Night: Jacare vs. Mousasi | September 5, 2014 | 1 | 2:19 | Mashantucket, Connecticut, United States | Performance of the Night. |
| Win | 33–9 | Brandon Vera | TKO (punches) | UFC 164 | August 31, 2013 | 3 | 1:54 | Milwaukee, Wisconsin, United States | Rothwell suspended after testing positive for elevated testosterone levels. |
| Loss | 32–9 | Gabriel Gonzaga | Submission (guillotine choke) | UFC on FX: Belfort vs. Bisping | January 19, 2013 | 2 | 1:01 | São Paulo, Brazil | |
| Win | 32–8 | Brendan Schaub | KO (punches) | UFC 145 | April 21, 2012 | 1 | 1:10 | Atlanta, Georgia, United States | Knockout of the Night. |
| Loss | 31–8 | Mark Hunt | Decision (unanimous) | UFC 135 | September 24, 2011 | 3 | 5:00 | Denver, Colorado, United States | |
| Win | 31–7 | Gilbert Yvel | Decision (unanimous) | UFC 115 | June 12, 2010 | 3 | 5:00 | Vancouver, British Columbia, Canada | |
| Loss | 30–7 | Cain Velasquez | TKO (punches) | UFC 104 | October 24, 2009 | 2 | 0:58 | Los Angeles, California, United States | |
| Win | 30–6 | Chris Guillen | TKO (submission to elbows) | Adrenaline MMA 2: Miletich vs. Denny | December 11, 2008 | 1 | 3:30 | Moline, Illinois, United States | |
| Loss | 29–6 | Andrei Arlovski | KO (punches) | Affliction: Banned | July 19, 2008 | 3 | 1:13 | Anaheim, California, United States | |
| Win | 29–5 | Ricco Rodriguez | Decision (unanimous) | IFL: 2007 Team Championship final | September 20, 2007 | 3 | 4:00 | Hollywood, Florida, United States | |
| Win | 28–5 | Krzysztof Soszyński | TKO (punches) | IFL: 2007 semifinals | August 2, 2007 | 1 | 0:13 | East Rutherford, New Jersey, United States | |
| Win | 27–5 | Travis Fulton | Submission (kimura) | IFL: Chicago | May 19, 2007 | 2 | 3:11 | Chicago, Illinois, United States | |
| Win | 26–5 | Roy Nelson | Decision (split) | IFL: Moline | April 7, 2007 | 3 | 4:00 | Moline, Illinois, United States | |
| Win | 25–5 | Matt Thompson | TKO (punches) | IFL: Houston | February 2, 2007 | 2 | 1:47 | Houston, Texas, United States | |
| Win | 24–5 | Devin Cole | KO (head kick) | IFL: Championship final | December 29, 2006 | 1 | 3:16 | Uncasville, Connecticut, United States | |
| Win | 23–5 | Wojtek Kaszowski | Submission (americana) | IFL: World Championship semifinals | November 2, 2006 | 1 | 3:14 | Portland, Oregon, United States | |
| Win | 22–5 | Bryan Vetell | KO (punch) | IFL: Gracie vs. Miletich | September 23, 2006 | 1 | 3:17 | Moline, Illinois, United States | |
| Win | 21–5 | Krzysztof Soszyński | TKO (punches) | IFL: Legends Championship 2006 | April 29, 2006 | 1 | 3:59 | Atlantic City, New Jersey, United States | |
| Win | 20–5 | Dan Bobish | KO (knee) | GFC: Team Gracie vs Team Hammer House | March 3, 2006 | 1 | 4:20 | Columbus, Ohio, United States | |
| Win | 19–5 | Joey Smith | TKO (submission to punches) | ISCF: Gladiators X | February 24, 2006 | 1 | N/A | Milwaukee, Wisconsin, United States | |
| Win | 18–5 | Don Richard | TKO (punches) | KOTC: Conquest | December 3, 2005 | 1 | 3:32 | Calgary, Alberta, Canada | |
| Win | 17–5 | Allan Weickert | TKO (punches) | GFS: Fight Nite in the Flats | September 17, 2005 | 1 | 3:45 | Cleveland, Ohio, United States | |
| Loss | 16–5 | Dan Christison | Submission (kimura) | Euphoria: USA vs World | February 26, 2005 | 3 | 0:57 | Atlantic City, New Jersey, United States | |
| Win | 16–4 | Jonathan Wiezorek | TKO (punches) | Euphoria: Road to the Titles | October 15, 2004 | 1 | 1:09 | Atlantic City, New Jersey, United States | |
| Win | 15–4 | Matt Bear | TKO (submission to punches) | Ultimate Throwdown | July 16, 2004 | 1 | 2:57 | Des Moines, Iowa, United States | |
| Loss | 14–4 | Carlos Barreto | KO (head kick) | Heat FC 1: Genesis | July 31, 2003 | 1 | N/A | Natal, Brazil | |
| Win | 14–3 | Royce Louck | TKO (doctor stoppage) | Freestyle Combat Challenge 11 | June 28, 2003 | 1 | N/A | Racine, Wisconsin, United States | |
| Loss | 13–3 | Ibragim Magomedov | TKO (retirement) | M-1 MFC: Russia vs. the World 4 | November 15, 2002 | 1 | 10:00 | St. Petersburg, Russia | Scheduled for one 10-minute round. |
| Win | 13–2 | Travis Fulton | TKO (injury) | Freestyle Combat Challenge 8 | October 4, 2002 | 1 | 5:00 | Racine, Wisconsin, United States | |
| Win | 12–2 | Johnathan Ivey | TKO (doctor stoppage) | USMMA 2: Ring of Fury | September 21, 2002 | 1 | 1:14 | Lowell, Massachusetts, United States | Won the USMMA Heavyweight Championship. |
| Loss | 11–2 | Mike Whitehead | Decision (unanimous) | SB 24: Return of the Heavyweights 2 | April 27, 2002 | 2 | 5:00 | Honolulu, Hawaii, United States | |
| Win | 11–1 | Kerry Schall | TKO (neck injury) | 2 | 2:10 | Schall fell out of the ring. | |||
| Win | 10–1 | Curtis Crawford | Submission (forearm choke) | SB 24: Return of the Heavyweights 1 | April 26, 2002 | 1 | 1:03 | Honolulu, Hawaii, United States | |
| Win | 9–1 | Mike Priest | TKO (injury) | Freestyle Combat Challenge 7 | March 23, 2002 | 1 | N/A | Racine, Wisconsin, United States | |
| Win | 8–1 | Mike Radnov | TKO (doctor stoppage) | Extreme Challenge 46 | February 16, 2002 | 1 | 5:54 | Clive, Iowa, United States | |
| Win | 7–1 | Kerry Schall | TKO (foot injury) | 1 | 7:29 | ||||
| Win | 6–1 | Mike Marshalleck | TKO (punches) | Freestyle Combat Challenge 6 | January 5, 2002 | 1 | 0:38 | Racine, Wisconsin, United States | |
| Win | 5–1 | Steve Hutson | Submission (arm-triangle choke) | SC 8: Fight Night | November 10, 2001 | 1 | 3:35 | LaSalle, Illinois, United States | |
| Loss | 4–1 | Tim Sylvia | Decision (unanimous) | Extreme Challenge 42 | August 24, 2001 | 3 | 5:00 | Davenport, Iowa, United States | |
| Win | 4–0 | Billy Herrington | TKO (submission to knees) | Iowa Challenge 2 | August 11, 2001 | 1 | 1:07 | Cedar Rapids, Iowa, United States | |
| Win | 3–0 | Darren Block | KO (punch) | Dangerzone: Auburn | April 28, 2001 | 1 | 0:16 | Auburn, Indiana, United States | |
| Win | 2–0 | Anthony Ferguson | TKO (referee stoppage) | 1 | 1:00 | ||||
| Win | 1–0 | Rob Shinkle | TKO (corner stoppage) | Freestyle Combat Challenge 3 | January 6, 2001 | 1 | 0:21 | Racine, Wisconsin, United States |
Kickboxing record (incomplete)
[edit]| 3 wins, 0 losses | |||||||
| Date | Result | Opponent | Event | Location | Method | Round | Time |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 2005-10-21 | Win | ISCF: Colosseum Returns | Milwaukee, Wisconsin, USA | DQ (low blows) | 1 | N/A | |
| 2005-01-23 | Win | Shootboxing 2005: Ground Zero Fukuoka | Fukuoka, Japan | Decision (unanimous) | 3 | 3:00 | |
| Legend: Win Loss Draw/No contest Notes | |||||||
Bare knuckle boxing record
[edit]| 4 matches | 4 wins | 0 losses |
| By knockout | 4 | 0 |
| Res. | Record | Opponent | Method | Event | Date | Round | Time | Location | Notes |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Win | 4–0 | Mick Terrill | KO (punch) | BKFC Knucklemania V | January 25, 2025 | 1 | 0:36 | Philadelphia, Pennsylvania, United States | Won the BKFC Heavyweight Championship. Knockout of the Night. |
| Win | 3–0 | Todd Duffee | TKO (injury) | BKFC: Knucklemania IV | April 27, 2024 | 1 | 0:43 | Los Angeles, California, United States | |
| Win | 2–0 | Josh Copeland | TKO (corner stoppage) | BKFC 41 | April 29, 2023 | 3 | 2:00 | Broomfield, Colorado, United States | |
| Win | 1–0 | Bobo O'Bannon | KO (punch) | BKFC 30 | October 1, 2022 | 1 | 0:19 | Monroe, Louisiana, United States | Knockout of the Night. |
References
[edit]- ^ "Ben Rothwell UFC Profile". UFC.com. September 14, 2018. Retrieved March 10, 2019.
- ^ Mike Bohn (August 20, 2019). "Skidding Ben Rothwell reunites with Roufusport ahead of UFC on ESPN 7". mmajunkie.com.
- ^ "BKFC Fighters - Pound for Pound Rankings". Bare Knuckle Fighting Championship. Retrieved April 4, 2025.
- ^ "I'm 1/2 Irish" - https://twitter.com/RothwellFighter/status/663897431864557568
- ^ Guida, Bill MMA fighter's new venture emphasizes discipline, self-improvement Archived October 29, 2014, at the Wayback Machine. Kenosha News
- ^ Ben Rothwell MMA Stats, Pictures, News, Videos, Biography. Sherdog.com.
- ^ UFC 104 Results and Live Play-by-Play. Sherdog.com (October 25, 2009). Retrieved on January 3, 2014.
- ^ "Ben Rothwell and Mirko "Cro Cop" Filipovic likely to meet at UFC 110". mmajunkie.com. Archived from the original on November 8, 2009. Retrieved November 5, 2009.
- ^ UFC 110: Anthony Perosh Replaces Ben Rothwell Versus Mirko Cro Cop Archived April 26, 2010, at the Wayback Machine. Fighters.com (February 19, 2010). Retrieved on January 3, 2014.
- ^ The Official Website of the Ultimate Fighting Championship® Archived February 22, 2010, at the Wayback Machine. UFC (December 30, 2013). Retrieved on January 3, 2014.
- ^ Brady, Cory. (July 30, 2010) Ben Rothwell out nine months with torn ACL Archived September 1, 2010, at the Wayback Machine. Five Ounces of Pain. Retrieved on January 3, 2014.
- ^ UFC heavyweight Ben Rothwell Out For 9 Months Due To ACL Tear. Fightofthenight.com. July 30, 2010.
- ^ "Ben Rothwell vs. Mark Hunt Projected for UFC 135". bloodyelbow.com. Retrieved June 13, 2011.
- ^ a b "UFC 145 Fighter Bonuses Handed Out to the Tune of $65,000 Each". Yahoo! Sports. June 2, 2012.
- ^ "UFC 145; seven bouts shift to Atlanta". mmajunkie.com. January 20, 2012.[permanent dead link]
- ^ Erickson, Matt (November 2, 2012). "Heavyweights Ben Rothwell, Gabriel Gonzaga targeted for Jan. 19 UFC card in Brazil". MMAjunkie.com. Retrieved November 2, 2012.
- ^ Marrocco, Steven (May 14, 2013). "Ben Rothwell vs. Brandon Vera heavyweight bout targeted for UFC 164 in Milwaukee". MMAjunkie.com. Retrieved May 14, 2013.
- ^ Marrocco, Steven (October 3, 2013). "UFC trumps Wisconsin, suspends Ben Rothwell for elevated testosterone". MMAjunkie.com. Retrieved October 3, 2013.
- ^ Radik Khuzin (July 6, 2014). "Magomedov vs Rothwell added to UFC 177 in Sacramento". /mmaboxing.ru. Archived from the original on July 16, 2014. Retrieved July 6, 2014.
- ^ "Alistair Overeem vs. Ben Rothwell Added to UFC Fight Night in Connecticut". msn.foxsports.com. July 9, 2014. Retrieved July 9, 2014.
- ^ Steven Marrocco (September 5, 2014). "UFC Fight Night 50 results: Ben Rothwell shocks Alistair Overeem in opening round". mmajunkie.com. Retrieved September 5, 2014.
- ^ a b "UUFC Fight Night 50 bonuses: Lauzon, Chiesa, Souza and Rothwell win $50,000". MMAjunkie.com. September 6, 2014.
- ^ Tom Ngo (February 27, 2015). "Mitrione vs. Rothwell, Henderson vs. Boetsch added to UFC Fight Night 68". 5thround.com. Archived from the original on April 2, 2015. Retrieved February 27, 2015.
- ^ Tim Burke (June 7, 2015). "UFC Fight Night 68 results: Ben Rothwell chokes out Matt Mitrione early". bloodyelbow.com. Retrieved June 7, 2015.
- ^ Steven Marrocco (August 12, 2015). "Heavyweights Stipe Miocic and Ben Rothwell targeted for UFC Fight Night 76 in Dublin". mmajunkie.com. Retrieved August 12, 2015.
- ^ Steven Marrocco (October 13, 2015). "Stipe Miocic out of next week's UFC Fight Night 76 co-headliner with Ben Rothwell". mmajunkie.com. Retrieved October 13, 2015.
- ^ Ariel Helwani (October 14, 2015). "Ben Rothwell removed from next week's UFC Fight Night Dublin card". mmafighting.com. Retrieved October 14, 2015.
- ^ Damon Martin (November 24, 2015). "Josh Barnett vs. Ben Rothwell joins FOX UFC Fight Night in New Jersey". foxsports.com. Retrieved November 24, 2015.
- ^ Steven Marrocco (January 30, 2016). "UFC on FOX 18 results: Ben Rothwell scores shocking submission of Josh Barnett". mmajunkie.com. Retrieved January 30, 2016.
- ^ a b Staff (January 30, 2016). "UFC on FOX 18 bonuses: Jimmie Rivera, Iuri Alcantara cash in for 'Fight of the Night'". mmajunkie.com. Retrieved January 30, 2016.
- ^ Staff (February 8, 2016). "Ben Rothwell vs. Junior Dos Santos headlines UFC Fight Night 86 in Croatia". mmajunkie.com. Retrieved February 8, 2016.
- ^ Brett Okamoto (April 10, 2016). "Dos Santos outpoints Rothwell at UFC Fight Night". ESPN. Retrieved April 10, 2016.
- ^ Dave Doyle (May 29, 2016). "Fabricio Werdum vs. Ben Rothwell set for UFC 203 in Cleveland". mmafighting.com. Retrieved May 29, 2016.
- ^ Steven Marrocco (August 11, 2016). "Injury forces Ben Rothwell out of UFC 203 co-main event with Fabricio Werdum". mmajunkie.com. Retrieved August 11, 2016.
- ^ Steven Marrocco and John Morgan (August 11, 2016). "Travis Browne steps in for Ben Rothwell, rematches Fabricio Werdum at UFC 203". mmajunkie.com. Retrieved August 11, 2016.
- ^ Griffin Youngs (February 7, 2017). "UFC 211: Fabricio Werdum vs. Ben Rothwell targeted For Dallas". foxsports.com. Retrieved February 7, 2017.
- ^ Staff (April 6, 2018). "UFC Heavyweight 'Big' Ben Rothwell Handed Two Year Suspension by USADA". cagesidepress.com. Retrieved April 6, 2018.
- ^ "UFC Fight Night coming to Wichita". ufc.com. January 8, 2019. Retrieved January 8, 2019.
- ^ Pearson, Andrew (March 9, 2019). "Blagoy Ivanov Edges Ben Rothwell to Boos of the Crowd". MMAmania.com. Retrieved March 10, 2019.
- ^ Tristen Critchfield (May 20, 2019). "Andrei Arlovski, Ben Rothwell set for rematch at UFC San Antonio on July 20". sherdog.com. Retrieved May 21, 2019.
- ^ Anderson, Jay (July 20, 2019). "UFC San Antonio Results: Andrei Arlovski Puts on Clinic Early Against Ben Rothwell". Cageside Press. Retrieved July 21, 2019.
- ^ Redactie (August 13, 2018). "Stefan Struve meets Ben Rothwell during UFC on ESPN 7 in Washington D.C." mmadna.nl (in Dutch). Retrieved August 13, 2019.
- ^ Doherty, Dan (December 7, 2019). "UFC DC Results: After Delivering Two Groin Shots, Ben Rothwell Finishes Stefan Struve". Cageside Press. Retrieved December 8, 2019.
- ^ Nolan King (December 7, 2019). "UFC on ESPN 7 results: Ben Rothwell low blows then TKOs Stefan Struve". mmajunkie.com. Retrieved December 7, 2019.
- ^ Anderson, Jay (January 13, 2020). "Gian Villante Moving to Heavyweight, Will Face Ben Rothwell at UFC 249". Cageside Press. Retrieved January 14, 2020.
- ^ Trent Reinsmith (April 9, 2020). "UFC 249 Canceled; Other Events Postponed". Forbes. Retrieved April 28, 2020.
- ^ Damon Martin (April 24, 2020). "Ben Rothwell vs. Ovince Saint Preux in the works for UFC card on May 13". MMA fighting.com. Retrieved April 28, 2020.
- ^ Sherwin, Collin (May 13, 2020). "Ben Rothwell defeats Ovince Saint Preux by split decision". DraftKings Nation. Retrieved May 14, 2020.
- ^ Tim Burke (August 5, 2020). "Ben Rothwell vs. Marcin Tybura added to October UFC event". bloodyelbow.com. Retrieved August 19, 2020.
- ^ Vreeland, Daniel (October 9, 2020). "UFC Fight Island 5: Cory Sandhagen On Overcoming Aljo Loss". Cageside Press. Retrieved October 11, 2020.
- ^ Jay Pettry (January 29, 2021). "Ben Rothwell takes on Philipe Lins at UFC Fight Night 187 on March 13". Sherdog.com. Retrieved January 29, 2021.
- ^ Guilherme Cruz and Damon Martin (March 9, 2021). "Ben Rothwell vs. Philipe Lins fight at UFC Vegas 21 postponed". mmafighting.com. Retrieved March 9, 2021.
- ^ "After cancellation, UFC rebooks Philipe Lins vs. Ben Rothwell for May 8". MMA Junkie. March 17, 2021. Retrieved March 17, 2021.
- ^ Mike Bohn (May 7, 2021). "Philipe Lins out of UFC on ESPN 24 fight with Ben Rothwell because of illness". mmajunkie.usatoday.com. Retrieved May 7, 2021.
- ^ "Gordon Ryan's ONE Championship Debut Announced, More News | Fight Announcement Roundup | Fightful News". www.fightful.com. Retrieved May 11, 2021.
- ^ "Askar Mozharov vervangt Philipe Lins tegen Ben Rothwell op 22 mei". MMA DNA. May 11, 2021. Retrieved May 12, 2021.
- ^ Yuriy Semenyuk (May 12, 2021). "Ukrainian fighter Mozharov will sign an unexpected contract with the UFC". sport.24tv.ua. Retrieved May 12, 2021. (in Ukrainian)
- ^ "Publiekslieveling Chris Barnett tekent bij de UFC, treft Ben Rothwell op 22 mei in Las Vegas". MMA DNA. May 13, 2021. Retrieved May 13, 2021.
- ^ Bitter, Shawn (May 22, 2021). "UFC Vegas 27 Results: Ben Rothwell Submits Debuting Chris Barnett". Cageside Press. Retrieved May 23, 2021.
- ^ ""Mr. Gogo Choke" Ben Rothwell treft Marcos Rogerio de Lima tijdens UFC evenement op 13 november". MMA DNA. August 29, 2021. Retrieved August 29, 2021.
- ^ Doherty, Dan (November 13, 2021). "UFC Vegas 42: Marcos Rogerio de Lima Runs Through Ben Rothwell". Cageside Press. Retrieved November 13, 2021.
- ^ "Eurosport is not available in your region". www.eurosport.com. Retrieved February 1, 2022.
- ^ Martin, Damon (March 31, 2022). "Ben Rothwell released from the UFC, no longer facing Alexander Gustafsson in May". MMA Fighting. Retrieved March 31, 2022.
- ^ Anderson, Jay (April 25, 2022). "Ex-UFC Heavyweight Ben Rothwell Signs with Bare Knuckle FC". Cageside Press. Retrieved April 27, 2022.
- ^ BKFC Staff (December 1, 2023). "Ben Rothwell, Heavyweight Record". bkfc.com.
- ^ Danny Segura (November 30, 2023). "Ben Rothwell out of BKFC 56, fight with Todd Duffee now targeted for February". mmajunkie.com.
- ^ Iskenderov, Parviz (February 28, 2024). "Mike Perry vs Thiago Alves tops BKFC Knucklemania 4 in April in LA". FIGHTMAG.
- ^ "BKFC KnuckleMania 4 live and official results, preliminary stream". MMA Junkie. April 28, 2024. Retrieved April 28, 2024.
- ^ "BKFC KNUCKLEMANIA V". Bare Knuckle Fighting Championships. Retrieved November 20, 2024.
- ^ Staff (January 25, 2025). "BKFC KnuckleMania 5 Full Results". cagesidepress.com. Retrieved January 26, 2025.
- ^ a b "KnuckleMania V Results | BKFC". Bare Knuckle Fighting Championship. Retrieved January 26, 2025.
- ^ Iskenderov, Parviz (June 3, 2025). "BKFC 79 fight card: Ben Rothwell faces Alex Simon in Perth main event". FIGHTMAG.
- ^ Lee, Alexander K. (June 3, 2025). "Ben Rothwell vs. Alex Simon title fight headlines BKFC Australia debut". MMA Fighting.
- ^ "Warrior at heart". JSONLINE.com. August 2, 2007. Archived from the original on January 30, 2009. Retrieved September 5, 2010.
- ^ Ben Rothwell: Back against the Wall. mmaweekly.com. May 23, 2021. Archived from the original on December 15, 2021 – via YouTube.
- ^ Thomas Gerbasi (December 23, 2014). "Top Ten - The Upsets of 2014". Ultimate Fighting Championship.
- ^ Thomas Gerbasi (December 21, 2016). "Top Ten - The Best Submissions of 2016". Ultimate Fighting Championship.
- ^ Jim Genia (September 21, 2002). "Rivera And Berger Victoriousat Ring Of Fury 2". fcfighter.com.
- ^ DNA, MMA (January 18, 2017). "MMA DNA UFC Awards 2016 : De Uitslagen!!!" (in Dutch). Retrieved January 28, 2019.
- ^ BKFC on Instagram (October 4, 2022). "BKFC 30 Bonuses". instagram.com.
{{cite web}}:|author=has generic name (help) - ^ Sherdog.com. "Ben Rothwell MMA Stats, Pictures, News, Videos, Biography - Sherdog.com". Sherdog. Retrieved November 13, 2021.
External links
[edit]Ben Rothwell
View on GrokipediaEarly Life
Family and Background
Ben Rothwell was born on October 17, 1981, and raised in Kenosha, Wisconsin, where he grew up in a family deeply involved in the local restaurant industry.[4] His parents owned and operated a catering company, providing a stable environment as Rothwell pursued his early interests in sports and physical activities.[4] He attended Westosha Central High School in nearby Paris, Wisconsin, graduating in 2000.[6]Health Challenges and Introduction to Combat Sports
Rothwell grew up as an active and athletic child until the age of six, when he contracted spinal meningitis, a potentially fatal bacterial infection of the spinal cord and brain's protective membranes.[7] The illness caused him to slip into an 11-day coma, during which he became temporarily blind; his doctors warned his family of a low survival rate and that, if he recovered, he would likely suffer permanent deafness, blindness, and paralysis.[8] Miraculously, Rothwell pulled through without those long-term disabilities, but the disease left him physically weakened and marked the beginning of ongoing health struggles, including battles with obesity that persisted into his adolescence.[9] In the years following his recovery, Rothwell transformed from a top school athlete into an isolated, overweight youth who faced bullying and social rejection, exacerbating his frustration and leading to aggressive outbursts and involvement in street fights.[9] By his mid-teens, around 1998 or 1999, he described himself as heading toward a destructive path, including potential incarceration, due to uncontrolled recklessness and a lack of direction.[10] These challenges culminated in a pivotal moment when, at age 17, Rothwell discovered mixed martial arts (MMA) as a constructive outlet for his pent-up aggression and energy.[11] Rothwell began training in MMA not initially with professional fighting in mind, but simply to learn the discipline and channel his violent tendencies into a controlled environment, crediting the sport with redirecting his life away from ruin.[12] After just one month of preparation at a local gym in Kenosha, he entered his first competition—a four-man heavyweight tournament in Cleveland, Ohio—where he secured a victory despite his inexperience, marking the start of his combat sports journey.[5] Rothwell has repeatedly stated that MMA "saved my life," providing structure, confidence, and a sense of purpose that helped him overcome his early adversities and build a professional career.[10]Mixed Martial Arts Career
Early Professional Career
Rothwell made his professional mixed martial arts debut on January 6, 2001, at FCC 3 - Freestyle Combat Challenge 3, defeating Robert Schinkel by TKO (corner stoppage) just 21 seconds into the first round.[1] Having built a 6-0 amateur record after starting MMA training in 1999 in Kenosha, Wisconsin, the 19-year-old Rothwell quickly established himself in the regional heavyweight scene with his aggressive striking and finishing ability.[5] In his first year as a pro, Rothwell competed frequently on the Midwestern circuit, securing four more first-round stoppages, including knockouts against Darren Block and Anthony Ferguson at Dangerzone - Auburn on April 28, 2001.[1] His early momentum was interrupted by a unanimous decision loss to future UFC heavyweight champion Tim Sylvia on August 24, 2001, at Extreme Challenge 42, but he rebounded with a submission victory over Steve Hutson later that year.[1] By the end of 2002, Rothwell had amassed 13 wins against three losses, often finishing opponents via strikes or injury in promotions like Gladiators Fighting Challenge and SuperBrawl, showcasing his raw power and ground control. Representative victories included a second-round TKO over Kerry Schall due to a neck injury and a first-round TKO against Mike Whitehead's teammate in a team-format event.[1] A pivotal setback came on July 31, 2003, when Rothwell was knocked out by a head kick from Brazilian veteran Carlos Barreto at Heat FC 1 - Genesis, prompting him to relocate training to Milwaukee under striking specialist Duke Roufus.[1][5] In 2004, he joined the renowned Miletich Fighting Systems camp in Iowa, training alongside elite fighters like Tim Sylvia and Matt Hughes, which refined his grappling and overall skill set.[5] This period yielded consistent wins, such as first-round TKOs against Matt Bear and Jonathan Wiezorek in 2004, and against Allan Weickert and Don Richards in 2005, bringing his record to 18-4 by late 2005.[1] Entering 2006, Rothwell continued his regional dominance with quick finishes, including a knee knockout of Dan Bobish on March 3 at Gracie Fighting Challenge and a TKO of Joey Smith on February 24 at ISCF - Gladiators X, demonstrating improved versatility in striking and submissions ahead of his entry into larger promotions.[1]International Fight League and Affliction Entertainment
Rothwell joined the International Fight League (IFL) in 2006 as a heavyweight representative for the Quad Cities Silverbacks team, quickly establishing himself as a dominant force in the promotion's team-based format.[1] Over the course of his tenure, he compiled an undefeated record of 9-0, showcasing a mix of knockout power, submissions, and decision victories against notable opponents.[1] His debut came on April 29, 2006, at IFL: Legends Championship 2006, where he defeated Krzysztof Soszynski via TKO (punches) in the first round at 3:59.[1] Subsequent wins included a first-round KO (punch) over Bryan Vetell on September 23, 2006, at IFL: Gracie vs. Miletich, and a submission (keylock) victory against Wojtek Kaszowski on November 2, 2006, at IFL: World Championship Semifinals.[1] Rothwell's IFL run featured several high-profile bouts that highlighted his versatility and finishing ability. On December 29, 2006, at IFL: Championship Final, he knocked out Devin Cole with a head kick in the first round at 3:16, earning a performance bonus for the strike.[1] He followed with a second-round TKO (punches) over Matt Thompson on February 2, 2007, at IFL: Houston, and a split decision win against Roy Nelson on April 7, 2007, at IFL: Moline, in a closely contested matchup.[1] A rematch with Soszynski on August 2, 2007, at IFL: 2007 Semifinals resulted in Rothwell's fastest finish, a TKO (punches) at just 0:13 of the first round.[1] His submission skills shone in a second-round kimura against Travis Fulton on May 19, 2007, at IFL: Chicago.[1] Culminating his undefeated streak, Rothwell captured the IFL Heavyweight Championship by defeating former UFC champion Ricco Rodriguez via unanimous decision on September 20, 2007, at IFL: 2007 Team Championship Final, solidifying his status as the promotion's top heavyweight.[13][1] Following the IFL's closure in 2008, Rothwell signed with Affliction Entertainment, a short-lived MMA promotion backed by the apparel company.[14] His sole appearance came at Affliction: Banned on July 19, 2008, where he faced former UFC Heavyweight Champion Andrei Arlovski in the co-main event.[15] Rothwell started strong, controlling the early rounds with grappling, but Arlovski rallied to win by TKO (punches) at 1:13 of the third round.[1] This loss marked Rothwell's first defeat in over two years and highlighted the challenges of competing against elite former champions.[16] Affliction folded after its third event later that year, limiting Rothwell's opportunities in the promotion to this single bout.[14]Ultimate Fighting Championship Tenure
Ben Rothwell made his Ultimate Fighting Championship (UFC) debut on October 24, 2009, at UFC 104 against future heavyweight champion Cain Velasquez, where he suffered a second-round TKO loss via punches.[2][1] Over the course of his 12-year tenure in the promotion, Rothwell compiled a record of 9 wins and 8 losses, primarily competing in the heavyweight division and facing a mix of established contenders and former champions.[2][1] His UFC career was marked by periods of momentum-building win streaks, upset victories, and interruptions due to anti-doping violations, culminating in his release from the organization following a 2021 loss.[17] Following his debut setback, Rothwell rebounded with a unanimous decision victory over Gilbert Yvel on June 12, 2010, at UFC 115, showcasing improved striking and grappling defense over three rounds.[1] He then dropped a unanimous decision to Mark Hunt on September 24, 2011, at UFC 135 in a grueling stand-up battle that highlighted Hunt's legendary durability.[2] Rothwell responded with a first-round knockout of Brendan Schaub via punches on April 21, 2012, at UFC 145, earning Performance of the Night honors and signaling his entry into the heavyweight contender conversation.[1] However, a second-round guillotine choke submission loss to Gabriel Gonzaga on January 19, 2013, at UFC on FX 7 stalled his progress.[2] Rothwell then embarked on a four-fight winning streak that elevated his profile. On August 31, 2013, at UFC 164, he secured a third-round TKO victory over Brandon Vera with punches and knees, though the win was later overshadowed by a nine-month UFC suspension announced in October 2013 for elevated testosterone levels, despite a therapeutic use exemption; the result stood, but the suspension delayed his return until mid-2014.[18] Upon reinstatement, he achieved one of his signature upsets, stopping Alistair Overeem via first-round TKO punches on September 5, 2014, at UFC Fight Night 50, demonstrating aggressive ground-and-pound against the former Strikeforce champion.[2] This was followed by a first-round guillotine submission of Matt Mitrione on June 6, 2015, at UFC Fight Night 68, and another guillotine finish against Josh Barnett in the second round on January 30, 2016, at UFC on Fox 18, earning him another Performance of the Night bonus.[1] Rothwell's streak ended in a five-round unanimous decision loss to former UFC heavyweight champion Junior dos Santos on April 10, 2016, at UFC Fight Night 86, a main event that tested his cardio against elite boxing.[2] His career then faced a significant hiatus due to USADA anti-doping issues; in April 2018, he accepted a two-year suspension for testing positive for clomiphene and letrozole, metabolites of exogenous testosterone, following out-of-competition samples in 2016 and 2017, which kept him sidelined until early 2019.[17] Upon return, Rothwell lost a unanimous decision to Blagoy Ivanov on March 9, 2019, at UFC Fight Night 146, followed by another decision defeat to Andrei Arlovski on July 20, 2019, at UFC on ESPN 4.[1] In late 2019, Rothwell notched a second-round TKO win over Stefan Struve via punches at UFC on ESPN 7, revitalizing his octagon run.[2] He followed with a split decision victory over Ovince Saint Preux on May 13, 2020, at UFC Fight Night 171, adapting to the light heavyweight's reach in a tactical bout.[1] However, losses to Marcin Tybura by unanimous decision on October 10, 2020, at UFC Fight Night 179, and a second-round TKO to Marcos Rogério de Lima on November 13, 2021, at UFC Fight Night 197 bookended a final win—a second-round guillotine submission of Chris Barnett on May 22, 2021, at UFC Fight Night 188.[2] Rothwell's UFC tenure concluded with his release from the promotion in 2022, after which he transitioned to bare-knuckle boxing.[19]| UFC Fight Record | Opponent | Date | Result | Method | Round | Time |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| UFC 104 | Cain Velasquez | Oct 24, 2009 | Loss | TKO (Punches) | 2 | 0:58 |
| UFC 115 | Gilbert Yvel | Jun 12, 2010 | Win | Decision (Unanimous) | 3 | 5:00 |
| UFC 135 | Mark Hunt | Sep 24, 2011 | Loss | Decision (Unanimous) | 3 | 5:00 |
| UFC 145 | Brendan Schaub | Apr 21, 2012 | Win | KO (Punches) | 1 | 1:10 |
| UFC on FX 7 | Gabriel Gonzaga | Jan 19, 2013 | Loss | Submission (Guillotine Choke) | 2 | 1:01 |
| UFC 164 | Brandon Vera | Aug 31, 2013 | Win | TKO (Punches and Knees) | 3 | 1:54 |
| UFC Fight Night 50 | Alistair Overeem | Sep 5, 2014 | Win | TKO (Punches) | 1 | 2:19 |
| UFC Fight Night 68 | Matt Mitrione | Jun 6, 2015 | Win | Submission (Guillotine Choke) | 1 | 1:54 |
| UFC on Fox 18 | Josh Barnett | Jan 30, 2016 | Win | Submission (Guillotine Choke) | 2 | 3:48 |
| UFC Fight Night 86 | Junior dos Santos | Apr 10, 2016 | Loss | Decision (Unanimous) | 5 | 5:00 |
| UFC Fight Night 146 | Blagoy Ivanov | Mar 9, 2019 | Loss | Decision (Unanimous) | 3 | 5:00 |
| UFC on ESPN 4 | Andrei Arlovski | Jul 20, 2019 | Loss | Decision (Unanimous) | 3 | 5:00 |
| UFC on ESPN 7 | Stefan Struve | Dec 7, 2019 | Win | TKO (Punches) | 2 | 4:57 |
| UFC Fight Night 171 | Ovince Saint Preux | May 13, 2020 | Win | Decision (Split) | 3 | 5:00 |
| UFC Fight Night 179 | Marcin Tybura | Oct 10, 2020 | Loss | Decision (Unanimous) | 3 | 5:00 |
| UFC Fight Night 188 | Chris Barnett | May 22, 2021 | Win | Submission (Guillotine Choke) | 2 | 2:07 |
| UFC Fight Night 197 | Marcos Rogério de Lima | Nov 13, 2021 | Loss | TKO (Punches) | 1 | 0:32 |
Bare-Knuckle Boxing Career
Debut in Bare Knuckle Fighting Championship
Ben Rothwell, a veteran mixed martial artist with a 12-year tenure in the Ultimate Fighting Championship, transitioned to bare-knuckle boxing following his release from the UFC on March 31, 2022, after a unanimous decision loss to Marcin Tybura the previous year.[20][21] Seeking new opportunities in combat sports, Rothwell signed with the Bare Knuckle Fighting Championship (BKFC) and was announced for his promotional debut at BKFC 30 on October 1, 2022, at the Fant-Ewing Coliseum in Monroe, Louisiana.[22] The event was headlined by a cruiserweight title bout between Lorenzo Hunt and Quentin Henry, positioning Rothwell's fight as the co-main event. Rothwell faced Bobo O'Bannon, a BKFC veteran nicknamed "The Bible Belt Brawler" with a 3-3 record, including three knockouts, in a heavyweight matchup.[23] Entering the ring at age 40, Rothwell expressed a pragmatic approach to his career, stating on The MMA Hour that with limited fights remaining, the bout was primarily an opportunity to earn income.[22] O'Bannon, meanwhile, had publicly sought a high-profile opponent like Rothwell to elevate his standing in the promotion.[24] The fight began with Rothwell displaying immediate aggression, charging forward and landing sharp punches on O'Bannon. At just 0:19 into the first round, Rothwell delivered a devastating right uppercut that knocked O'Bannon unconscious, securing a knockout victory without sustaining any damage himself.[23] The rapid finish, described as one of the most brutal uppercuts in BKFC history, showcased Rothwell's power and precision in the bare-knuckle format.[4] In his post-fight interview, Rothwell called for BKFC to match him against stronger heavyweights, declaring to the crowd and promotion, "You have seen nothing yet," signaling his intent to climb the division.[23] The debut win improved Rothwell's bare-knuckle record to 1-0 and generated significant buzz, highlighting his potential as a top heavyweight contender in the organization.[25]Rise to Heavyweight Championship
Building momentum, Rothwell secured his second BKFC victory on April 29, 2023, at BKFC 41 in Broomfield, Colorado, against former BKFC heavyweight title challenger Josh Copeland.[4][26] The bout went into the third round, where Rothwell's relentless pressure and striking volume led to a technical knockout at 2:00, improving his bare-knuckle record to 2-0.[4] Following this win, Rothwell publicly called out then-champion Alan Belcher, signaling his intent to pursue the heavyweight crown and positioning himself as the division's top contender.[27] Rothwell's third fight came on December 2, 2023, at BKFC 56 in Salt Lake City, Utah, against fellow MMA veteran Todd Duffee.[4][28] He dominated early, securing a first-round TKO at 0:43 via referee stoppage after overwhelming Duffee with heavy punches, further solidifying his undefeated streak at 3-0 in BKFC.[4] This performance, combined with the division's evolution—including Mick Terrill's ascension to champion after dethroning Lorenzo Hunt on April 27, 2024—earned Rothwell a long-awaited title opportunity.[29] On January 25, 2025, at BKFC KnuckleMania 5 in Philadelphia, Pennsylvania, Rothwell challenged reigning BKFC Heavyweight Champion Mick Terrill for the title in the co-main event.[3] True to his knockout prowess, Rothwell dropped Terrill with a blistering right hand just 36 seconds into the first round, forcing an immediate stoppage and claiming the championship.[3] This victory not only crowned him the BKFC Heavyweight Champion but also earned him another Knockout of the Night award, capping a methodical rise defined by explosive finishes and veteran savvy.[30] Rothwell made his first appearance as champion on July 19, 2025, at BKFC 79 in Perth, Australia, where he defeated Alex Simon to win the inaugural BKFC super heavyweight championship, extending his undefeated BKFC record to 5-0.[31][32]Personal Life
Family and Relationships
Ben Rothwell is married to Jen Rothwell, whom he met when he was 21 while she was 18 and working at a local sandwich shop in Kenosha, Wisconsin; they began dating after he attended one of her kickboxing classes following a sparring session that impressed her.[33] The couple jointly manages Rothwell Mixed Martial Arts, their gym in Kenosha, where Jen oversees operations and fitness programs to support Ben's fighting career and community involvement.[33] Rothwell and his wife have two children: a daughter, born prior to 2015, and a son named Odin, born in early 2021.[33][34] He has prioritized family proximity by basing his training in Kenosha, citing the desire to remain near his daughter and avoid extended separations during his professional commitments.[33] In 2021, Rothwell described fatherhood to Odin as a profound motivation, noting how it enhanced his focus and resilience ahead of fights.[34]Business Ventures and Training
In addition to his combat sports career, Ben Rothwell owns and operates Rothwell Mixed Martial Arts, a training facility in Kenosha, Wisconsin, which he established in late 2009 upon returning to his hometown after years of professional fighting abroad.[5] Initially created as a personal training space after Rothwell returned to Kenosha in late 2009 following his time training at Miletich Fighting Systems, the gym has evolved into a community hub offering classes in mixed martial arts, Brazilian jiu-jitsu, kickboxing, boxing, Muay Thai, and fitness programs tailored for youth and adults.[5][35] Rothwell expanded his business in June 2024 by purchasing the Rustic Dairyland Antique Mall at 12009 53rd Place in Kenosha, intending to renovate the 12,000-square-foot property into a larger MMA gym to accommodate growing demand for training programs.[36] The new facility officially opened on March 29, 2025, marking a significant milestone in Rothwell's entrepreneurial efforts to build a dedicated space for martial arts development in his community.[6] Rothwell's training regimen began in 1999 at age 17 in Kenosha, where he developed foundational skills in wrestling and other disciplines before advancing under renowned coaches such as Duke Roufus for kickboxing and Pat Miletich for MMA, earning black belt ranks in multiple arts.[5] He now primarily trains at his own gym, integrating wrestling, striking, and grappling techniques honed over two decades of professional competition, while also instructing classes focused on self-defense, technique refinement, and competitive preparation for students of all skill levels.[5][35]Championships and Accomplishments
Mixed Martial Arts Achievements
Ben Rothwell amassed a professional mixed martial arts record of 39 wins and 14 losses over a career that spanned from 2001 to 2021, with the majority of his victories coming by knockout or technical knockout (28) and submission (7).[37] His achievements highlight a durable heavyweight presence, marked by undefeated runs in regional promotions and a competitive tenure in major organizations, where he secured upsets against elite competition. Rothwell's striking power and grappling acumen allowed him to compete against six former or future UFC heavyweight champions throughout his career, including Tim Sylvia, Andrei Arlovski, Cain Velasquez, and Junior dos Santos.[2] A cornerstone of Rothwell's early accomplishments was his 9-0 record in the International Fight League (IFL) from 2006 to 2007, where he emerged as one of the promotion's top heavyweights.[2] He won the 2006 IFL Heavyweight Championship Final by knocking out Devin Cole with a head kick at 3:16 of the first round, following a semifinal submission victory over Wojtek Kaszowski via keylock.[1] Additional key IFL triumphs included a split decision over Roy Nelson, a unanimous decision against Ricco Rodriguez in the 2007 Team Championship Final, and a rapid 13-second TKO of Krzysztof Soszynski in a rematch, underscoring his dominance in the promotion's team-based format.[1][2] During his UFC tenure from 2009 to 2021, Rothwell recorded a 9-8 mark, with standout victories establishing his reputation as a gatekeeper in the heavyweight division.[37] He submitted former UFC heavyweight champion Josh Barnett via guillotine choke in the second round at UFC on Fox: Johnson vs. Bader in 2016, ending Barnett's undefeated streak in the promotion.[2] Other significant wins included a third-round TKO of Alistair Overeem at UFC Fight Night: Jacaré vs. Mousasi in 2014, a first-round knockout of Brendan Schaub in 2011, and technical knockouts against Brandon Vera and Stefan Struve.[2] These performances, often against top-10 contenders, highlighted Rothwell's ability to mix knockout power with submission threats, contributing to his longevity in the sport despite setbacks against champions like Cain Velasquez.Bare-Knuckle Boxing Titles
Ben Rothwell captured the Bare Knuckle Fighting Championship (BKFC) Heavyweight Championship on January 25, 2025, at BKFC KnuckleMania 5 in Philadelphia, Pennsylvania, defeating reigning champion Mick Terrill via knockout at 0:36 of the first round.[39][40] Rothwell, entering the bout with an undefeated 3-0 record in bare-knuckle boxing, overwhelmed Terrill with a series of powerful strikes, culminating in a decisive right hand that rendered the champion unconscious and unable to continue.[4][41] This victory marked Rothwell's first professional title in bare-knuckle boxing and solidified his transition from mixed martial arts, where he had competed for over two decades.[30] Prior to the title fight, Rothwell had built momentum in the BKFC heavyweight division with quick finishes against established opponents, positioning him as the top contender.[42] His path to the championship included a 19-second technical knockout of Bobo O'Bannon in his debut at BKFC 30 in October 2022, a corner stoppage victory over Josh Copeland at BKFC 41 in April 2023 after dominating rounds of punishment, and a first-round technical knockout of Todd Duffee at BKFC KnuckleMania 4 in April 2024, where Duffee retired due to injury following multiple knockdowns.[4][43][44] These performances, all ending inside the first round, highlighted Rothwell's knockout power and pressure fighting style adapted to the bare-knuckle format.[19] As of November 2025, Rothwell remains the undisputed BKFC Heavyweight Champion, with no successful defenses recorded since winning the belt.[45] He was scheduled to compete for the inaugural BKFC Super Heavyweight Championship against Alex Simon at BKFC 79 in Perth, Australia, on July 19, 2025, but the event was cancelled, leaving the division's title uncontested.[32][46] Following the cancellation, a title defense against Andrei Arlovski has been targeted for 2026, though no date has been confirmed as of November 2025.[47] This opportunity would have represented Rothwell's bid for a second bare-knuckle title, expanding on his heavyweight reign amid the promotion's growing emphasis on larger weight classes.[48]Kickboxing Achievements
Rothwell also competed in professional kickboxing, maintaining an undefeated 3-0 record.[5]Professional Records
Mixed Martial Arts Record
Ben Rothwell compiled a professional mixed martial arts record of 39 wins and 14 losses, with no draws, across 53 bouts from 2002 to 2021.[1] His victories consisted of 28 knockouts or technical knockouts, 7 submissions, and 4 decisions, while his defeats included 5 knockouts or technical knockouts, 2 submissions, and 7 decisions.[1] Rothwell's early career featured regional promotions in the Midwest, where he built a foundation with quick finishes, including a 13-second knockout of Krzysztof Soszynski in 2007 during his International Fight League tenure.[1] In the IFL, he remained undefeated at 9-0, capturing the heavyweight championship with notable wins over Roy Nelson and Ricco Rodriguez.[1] Transitioning to major organizations, Rothwell debuted in the UFC in 2009, amassing a 9-8 record over 17 appearances, highlighted by a first-round knockout of Brendan Schaub in 2012 and submissions against Matt Mitrione and Josh Barnett in 2015.[37] His UFC tenure ended with a first-round TKO loss to Marcos Rogério de Lima in November 2021.[1]| Breakdown | Wins | Losses |
|---|---|---|
| KO/TKO | 28 | 5 |
| Submission | 7 | 2 |
| Decision | 4 | 7 |
| Total | 39 | 14 |
Bare-Knuckle Boxing Record
Ben Rothwell maintains an undefeated professional bare-knuckle boxing record of 4 wins and 0 losses, all achieved under the Bare Knuckle Fighting Championship (BKFC) banner since his debut in 2022, as of November 2025.[4] His victories demonstrate a pattern of early stoppages, with three first-round finishes and one in the third round, showcasing his heavyweight power and striking precision.[4] On January 25, 2025, Rothwell captured the BKFC Heavyweight Championship with a first-round knockout over defending champion Mick Terrill at BKFC KnuckleMania 5 in Philadelphia, Pennsylvania.[3] Rothwell's bare-knuckle career began with a dominant 19-second knockout of Bobo O'Bannon via uppercut at BKFC 30 in Monroe, Louisiana, on October 1, 2022.[4] He followed this with a third-round TKO against former BKFC Heavyweight Champion Josh Copeland at BKFC 41 in Denver, Colorado, on April 30, 2023, overcoming an early deficit to secure the win.[4] In 2024, Rothwell notched two rapid first-round stoppages: a 43-second TKO of Todd Duffee at BKFC KnuckleMania 4 in Los Angeles, California, on April 27, 2024, and his title-winning performance against Terrill.[4][3]| Result | Opponent | Event | Date | Round | Time | Method |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Win | Mick Terrill | BKFC KnuckleMania 5 | Jan 25, 2025 | 1 | 0:36 | KO (punch) |
| Win | Todd Duffee | BKFC KnuckleMania 4 | Apr 27, 2024 | 1 | 0:43 | TKO (punches) |
| Win | Josh Copeland | BKFC 41: Colorado | Apr 30, 2023 | 3 | 2:00 | TKO (punches) |
| Win | Bobo O'Bannon | BKFC 30: Arnold Adams vs. Dustin Gardner | Oct 1, 2022 | 1 | 0:19 | KO (uppercut) |
Kickboxing Record
Ben Rothwell began his combat sports journey with a focus on kickboxing before transitioning to mixed martial arts. His professional kickboxing career was marked by an undefeated record of 3 wins and 0 losses, achieved early in his competitive tenure.[5] Details on Rothwell's specific kickboxing bouts remain limited in public records, as major MMA databases like Sherdog and Tapology primarily catalog his extensive MMA history. However, his undefeated streak underscores his foundational striking skills, which he later honed under kickboxing specialist Jason Maxwell following an early MMA setback. This background contributed to his development as a well-rounded heavyweight fighter.[5]References
- https://www.[sherdog](/page/Sherdog).com/fighter/Ben-Rothwell-2262
