265 lbs.: Mirko Cro Cop vs. Ben Rothwell
Odds: (-142 Cro Cop /+112 Rothwell )
The opening bout of the evening sees the Octagon return of former PRIDE Legend Mirko “Cro Cop” Filipovic, who will attempt to show the brutal striking that once made him one of the most feared fighters on the planet against a tough opponent, IFL veteran “Big” Ben Rothwell. Both Cro Cop and Rothwell made their names outside of the UFC, and neither man has turned in an impressive performance yet, so coming out of this fight with an impressive win is a must if either of them hopes to cement a long-term future in the UFC.
“Big” Ben Rothwell, a huge, well-rounded heavyweight, was one of the most dominant fighters in the now-defunct IFL. Since IFL’s closure, though, his momentum has come to a halt, as he was knocked out cold by Andrei Arlovski in his lone appearance for Affliction, and then steamrolled by top prospect Cain Velasquez in his UFC debut. Despite his recent losses, though, Rothwell is a dangerous fighter with a well-developed skillset and a surplus of physical gifts. Rothwell is very tall and has a husky, muscular build that helps him bully opponents around. More importantly, he has solid and powerful boxing, good wrestling, and surprisingly dangerous submissions. He is not one of the best in the world at any of those aspects of fighting, but he is far more well-rounded than most Heavyweights.
Cro Cop, once one of the most feared and exciting strikers in the world, has had a lot of trouble showing UFC audiences why he was once considered one of the top Heavyweights on Earth. After an impressive debut, he was knocked out cold by a Gabriel Gonzaga head kick and then easily handled by French kickboxer Cheick Kongo. After two low-quality wins in Japan, Cro Cop returned to UFC, looking good in handling Mustapha al-Turk, but was sent back into the L column in spectacular fashion by Junior dos Santos. Cro Cop still has excellent technique, but he does seem to have lost some of the strength and explosiveness that made him so dangerous in the past, not to mention some of his speed.
What made Cro Cop so great was more than just his devastating striking; it was his incredible ability to keep opponents from taking him down. Only Chuck Liddell was as good at stuffing takedowns and making opponents pay with superior striking. Unfortunately for Cro Cop, his strength and athleticism have suffered as he has gotten older, and chances are he is going to have a lot more trouble keeping himself upright if a guy as big and strong as Rothwell tries to force the clinch or a takedown. Rothwell is nowhere near a match for a prime Cro Cop on the feet, but he is not facing a prime Cro Cop, and he has a substantial amount of power in his own hands. Ultimately, though, I see him taking Cro Cop down eventually and controlling the fight easily before finishing with a rear naked choke.
Prediction: “Big” Ben Rothwell via second round rear naked choke.
- Bet on Big Ben as the underdog winner.
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