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In some ways, UFC veteran Ben Rothwell may have simply slid right into a title shot when he first arrived in BKFC.
With over 50 fights on his resume and a profession dated again greater than 20 years, the 6-foot-4 knockout artist turned a key free agent pickup after he requested for his launch from the UFC to discover new choices. Since making his debut, Rothwell has rapidly dispatched two opponents in spectacular style however relatively than earn a title shot, he was as an alternative scheduled to conflict with Todd Duffee this previous December.
Sadly, sickness worn out that combat with Rothwell unable to compete however now as he appears forward at 2024, he’s executed ready for a chance that ought to have already been earned.
“This isn’t like I’m bypassing Todd Duffee,” Rothwell defined when talking to MMA Preventing. “Mick Terrill and I had phrases a 12 months in the past. I used to be already going after him and he mentioned ‘I’m going to get the belt first after which I’m going to take you out.’ OK, nicely right here we’re.
“He’s received the belt and he’s principally holding onto my belt. That’s in the end the combat I’ve all the time wished.”
Terrill, a 7-1 veteran in bare-knuckle combat, claimed the heavyweight title with a knockout over Arnold Adams at BKFC 56. That win avenged a previous loss to Adams again in 2021 with Terrill now using a three-fight win streak total.
Rothwell doesn’t actually have something in opposition to Terrill personally apart from the British born heavyweight holding onto a belt he desperately desires so as to add to his assortment.
Add to that, Rothwell simply doesn’t see every other viable choices within the division, particularly if meaning one other champion from a decrease weight class simply packing on some further kilos in an try to compete at heavyweight.
“For me, I really feel it’s the largest and greatest heavyweight combat, me versus Mick Terrill,” Rothwell mentioned. “There’s talks of another guys coming after Mick. You’ve received 185-pound man [Lorenzo Hunt] combating Mick Terrill does nothing for the heavyweight division. It does nothing for Mick Terrill. It’s a lose-lose for him. If he wins, he’s imagined to win. If he loses, it’s completely devastating for his profession and him. Why would you try this?
“Struggle me. We’re the 2 greatest heavyweights within the division. That’s what folks tune in to see. A heavyweight combat. The 2 greatest heavyweights doing battle, that may be a combat we are able to construct. Everybody is aware of what I deliver to the desk so you realize it’s going to be superior to look at. It’s the combat that should occur.”
As disillusioned as he was to overlook out on his personal combat at BKFC 56, Rothwell nonetheless watched the occasion and noticed Terrill seize the title after stopping an exhausted Adams within the fourth spherical. If that efficiency confirmed him something, it’s that Rothwell is aware of he’s greater than able to take out the brand new heavyweight champion.
“[That fight showed me] I don’t have to combat anybody else once I know I can beat the heavyweight champ proper now,” Rothwell mentioned. “Props to him for being a really robust man. He gutted some exhausting photographs and issues of that nature however the competitor in me has to return out and say I don’t care, I’ve to take you out now. That’s simply how it’s.
“Outdoors of it, I’m comfortable for him. He gutted out a fantastic combat and took on a man that had variety dominated that division earlier than all of us received right here and he received revenge. They’d fought earlier and Mick Terrill had causes and excuses why he misplaced and he got here and made it proper.”
Ideally, Rothwell wish to compete sooner relatively than later. He hoped he may combat Terrill as early as February, though that timeline appears unrealistic given the present lineup already confirmed for BKFC by means of the primary two months of the 12 months.
That mentioned, Rothwell doesn’t actually care the place or when so long as the BKFC heavyweight title is up for grabs.
“I don’t give a s*** the place it’s at,” Rothwell mentioned. “I’ll combat him anyplace on this planet. If we’ve received to go to London, then ‘Large Ben’ goes to return present him what time it’s.
“I haven’t been this excited to need to combat anyone in a very long time. No offense to Mick, however we received it and that is the combat to make. I’m excited for this combat and I do know I’ll ship.”
Greater than something, Rothwell hopes Terrill is listening as a result of he is aware of BKFC might be fascinating in placing collectively the largest and absolute best matchups within the 12 months forward.
That’s why Rothwell despatched Terrill a direct message to make sure that he has the heavyweight champion’s undivided consideration.
“Mick Terrill, we’re the 2 greatest heavyweights within the division, we’ve got the chance to have the largest BKFC heavyweight title combat of all time,” Rothwell mentioned. “It’s a chance and it’s not going to return round once more. As a result of I’m right here and I’m prepared. All of the naysayers on the market ‘I’ve received to do that, I’ve received to do this.’ — no, I’ve executed sufficient in my profession, I beat in my thoughts I beat the second greatest heavyweight in Josh Copeland. I earned my shot. I don’t have to combat anyone else once I know I can beat the heavyweight champ proper now.
“Mick, you don’t like that? Then show everybody fallacious and do what a champion does and earn that belt by defending it as a result of I’m coming to take it regardless.”
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