Ben Rothwell calls out Fabricio Werdum: "The people like it"
Ben Rothwell is looking to pick a fight with Fabricio Werdum.
Ben Rothwell wants to make it known. He has his eyes set on former UFC heavyweight champion Fabricio Werdum.
“The people that make this stuff happen like it,” Rothwell told MMAjunkie. “There’s a strong possibility that’s the way it’s going to go. We’ve just got to make it official.”
Rothwell (36-10) was originally scheduled to challenge Werdum at UFC 203 but was forced out after injuring his knee in training camp.
Prior to this, Rothwell saw his four-fight win streak snapped at the hands of former champion Junior dos Santos in April. The Wisconsin native previously submitted former UFC heavyweight champion and submission specialist Josh Barnett and former collegiate football player Matt Mitrione. Rothwell also holds a knockout victory former K-1, Dream and Strikeforce champion Alistair Overeem.
“I am confident,” said Rothwell. “I know when I’m healthy, I know that I can beat any one of those guys out there. I know I’m the best in the world. We can beat each other on separate nights in the top five, but when I’m on, I feel like I can distinctively separate myself from the rest of them.”
After seeing Rothwell pull out of their first fight, Werdum (21-6-1) was paired up against Travis Browne for the second time in his career. Like in their first meeting, “Vail Cavalo” earned a dominant decision win.
This got back him on track after losing the heavyweight title to Stipe Miocic at UFC 198 in May. He was then matchup up with Cain Velasquez at UFC 207. However, these plans were nixed after UFC officials pulled Velasquez from the card with a back injury. As a result, Werdum was pulled for the card altogether.
“It will be a whole other year before he fights again if he thinks he’s going to sit and wait,” Rothwell said of the Brazilian. “We’ve got some up-and-coming heavyweights that are going to steal the spotlight if we don’t get to fighting.”
Neither the UFC nor Werdum have responded to Rothwell’s comments
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