Ben Rothwell’s first Bare Knuckle FC title defense will headline the promotion’s upcoming event at Knucklemania VI in Philadelphia.
Rothwell won the BKFC heavyweight championship by knocking out Mick Terrill with one punch in just 36 seconds in January. The victory capped a 4-0 run in bare-knuckle boxing for Rothwell, who has rebranded himself since retiring from the UFC and MMA.
Rothwell’s four bare-knuckle fights have all ended with a knockout, including recent victories over Todd Duffee and Josh Copeland. He now heads a stacked BKFC heavyweight division that includes Yoel Romero and Lorenzo Hunt, who will face off at Knucklemania VI.
As for what’s next for Rothwell, he will face a former UFC heavyweight champion to headline the card.
Ben Rothwell vs. Andrei Arlovski III headlines BKFC: Knucklemania VI
BKFC announced Wednesday that Rothwell will face former UFC heavyweight champion and two-time MMA foe Andrei Arlovski in the Knucklemania VI main event on February 7. Arlovski made his BKFC debut in June, finishing Rothwell’s former rival Copeland with a fourth-round TKO.
Arlovski has competed in several boxing promotions since retiring from the UFC. He recently defeated influencer Kelz at a Misfits Boxing event last month by fourth-round knockout.
Rothwell and Arlovski fought twice in their MMA careers, with Arlovski winning both bouts. Arlovski knocked out Rothwell in July 2008 at an Affliction event, and they matched again at a UFC event in 2019, with Arlovski earning a unanimous decision win.
The winner of Hunt vs. Romero will likely face the winner of Rothwell vs. Arlovski after Knucklemania VI. The event also features a rematch between rising BKFC stars Tony Soto and Ben Bonner on the main card.
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