Ben Rothwell gets quick tap from Matt Mitrione with first-round submission
Ben Rothwell is best known as a prolific knockout artist, but he showed Matt Mitrione he's got a few submissions up his sleeve as well after slapping on a front choke to get the tap out early in the first round.
Rothwell came into the fight ranked No. 9 in the world, ahead of Mitrione at No. 13, but despite the numbers attached to each of their names, the Wisconsin native came in as a decided underdog according to odds makers.
Mitrione started strong with good footwork and quick hands as he tried to hit and move on a far less mobile Ben Rothwell. Mitrione cracked Rothwell with a few good shots, but the 40-plus fight veteran weathered the storm and came back with some firepower of his own.
It appeared once Mitrione tasted a little bit of Rothwell's power he decided to look for a takedown, but it was quickly reversed and the end of the fight came just seconds later.
Rothwell grabbed onto a front choke and put the brunt of his 265-pound frame down on Mitrione's back and it didn't take long for the pressure to force a quick tap out with both hands as the referee stopped the bout.
Rothwell picks up his third straight victory and after the win he gave a post-fight speech for the ages as he targeted the top fighters in the heavyweight division while declaring his intention to win the title sooner rather than later.
"The only fight that matters to me now is the No. 1 contender's spot," Rothwell shouted. "I will have the UFC title. I know right now there's not a man on this planet that can stop me inside this Octagon and only politics can slow me.
"I don't have much to say other than you have seen nothing yet."
Rothwell has looked much improved with consistent wins after a rocky up and down start to his UFC career. Rothwell is now in a position where he could potentially be in a title eliminator in his next fight and after a quick win on Saturday he might be re-booked very soon.
