Rothwell: I can defeat any heavyweight on Earth

The UFC heavyweight division is notoriously difficult to put streaks together, win streaks, anyway. Ben Rothwell had a four-fight win streak broken fighting Junior Dos Santos at UFC Fight Night 86 on April 10, 2016 at the Arena Zagreb in Zagreb, Croatia.

Now ‘Big’ Ben, who is ranked #5 in the division, fights #1 ranked Fabricio Werdum at UFC 203 on September 10 at Quicken Loans Arena in Cleveland, Ohio. Division champion Stipe Miocic fights #3 ranked Alistair Overeem in the main event.

Rothwell is not intimidated. They say that birds descended from dinosaurs. If chickens were gigantic, this is how you would wring their neck.

The UFC often puts #1 contender fights on the same card as title fights in a clever piece of marketing. And Rothwell knows a great showing could earn him a title fight.

I know that I can defeat any heavyweight on the planet, said Rothwell to John Morgan for MMAjunkie. That’s it right now.

I think I have a great opportunity to prove [I’m the No. 1 contender]. I know that’s what (Werdum) is taking the fight for, and we’re the co-main event to the heavyweight title fight, and the challenger I’ve already knocked out, and the current champion wasn’t able to fight me in October because he pulled out against me, so I feel there’s already history there. There’s a guy or so that’s obviously in the line. I think it’s about performance, and I think Sept. 10, a challenger for the title will emerge.

Further, Rothwell happy fighting Miocic, if he remains champ; the pair were scheduled to fight at UFC Fight Night 76 in October, but Miocic pulled out with an injury. And Rothwell is happy to fight Overeem, if he is the new champ; Rothwell beat ‘Reem at UFC Fight Night 50 in 2014.

This fight is that step that I needed to really take me to the place I want to be, and that’s a No.1 contender and taking on for the title,” said Rothwell. “I know I can win this fight and win big.