“Big” Ben Rothwell will defend the BKFC Heavyweight Title against former UFC champion Andrei Arlovski in the Knucklemania VI main event on 7 February. BKFC announced the matchup today.
Rothwell vs Arlovski is a fight between former MMA rivals. Arlovski defeated fellow UFC veteran Rothwell twice in MMA matches.
“I’m fighting a guy who has two wins against me in the MMA circuit. It’s there. This is a fight I really wasn’t sure was gonna happen,” Rothwell said at today’s Knucklemania VI press conference in Philadelphia.
“They brought us together in the Texas event. I kinda made some remarks to him if he ever fights like that against me, I’m gonna retire him. Now I have some big words to back up. I sincerely mean them,” said Rothwell.
Rothwell (4-0, 4 KOs) will be making the first defence of the title he won from Britain’s Mick Terrill this past January. Rothwell stopped Terrill in just 36 seconds. Arlovski is 1-0 in BKFC, defeating Josh Copeland in his debut.
Lorenzo Hunt Faces Yoel Romero in Knucklemania VI Co-Main
BKFC Light Heavyweight Champion Lorenzo Hunt will face UFC and Bellator veteran Yoel Romero in the Knucklemania VI co-main event.
Hunt, who also held the BKFC cruiserweight belt, is moving back up from light heavyweight to fight Romero in a heavyweight contest. Romero won his BKFC debut in July with a TKO win over Theo Doukas.
“God give me the talent. God give me the opportunity. Anything is possible in your life when you believe it. When you believe, anything is possible. God bless you everyone,” Romero said.
“I’m coming here to get rid of this guy,” said Hunt.
“He’s been spoiled. He’s been taken care of. He’s been playing the paper champ game. I’m the real deal. We getting rid of this guy. Let’s go, Philly,” Hunt continued.
Hunt scored one of the year’s best knockouts last month, climbing off the canvas to stop Josh Dyer at BKFC 84.
BKFC Knucklemania VI Confirmed Bouts
Also announced is a lightweight rematch between Ben Bonner and Tony Soto. The UK’s Bonner defeated Soto by decision in June. The two will rematch in the BKFC Knucklemania VI Featured Fight.
Female flyweight contender Jade Maisson-Wong will meet veteran Crystal Pittman.
Philadelphia’s John Gabarino will face Kaine Tomlinson Jr. The two fighters exchanged words and had to be separated.
Knucklemania VI takes place on 7 February at Philadelphia’s Xfinity Mobile Arena (formerly the Wells Fargo Centre).
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