Ben Rothwell Makes Statement At UFC Fight Night 50 By Destroying Alistair Overeem

By Rick LaFitte

 

Ben Rothwell rocks Alistair Overeem during UFC Fight Night 50 heavyweight bout
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While Ben Rothwell was a substantial underdog heading into his UFC Fight Night 50 clash in Connecticut against Alistair Overeem, he was confident that his style matched up well against the dangerous striker. He proved prophetic by destroying “The Reem” in the first-round of their co-main event heavyweight contest.

Rothwell relied on his toughness early on to survive some formidable leg kicks and punches from his powerful opponent, and finally was able to turn the tide with a right hand to the temple. Overeem was rocked by the blow and fell to the canvas, as “Big Ben” would secure the TKO finish at the 2:19 mark with a series of follow-up strikes. The effort earned Rothwell a Performance of the Night bonus and was a terrific return to the Octagon after being out of action for over a year.

“Big Ben” had seen his career stalled by a nine-month suspension for high testosterone levels after his third-round TKO of Brandon Vera at UFC 164. He fell out of the heavyweight picture during his lengthy absence, but has now gotten right back into Top-15 territory. Rothwell has a remarkable 31 finishes in 34 career wins and should be in line for an exciting opportunity in his next fight. He probably won’t get the top-contender matchup that he’s hoping for, but it’s clear he has become a major player in a talent-thin division.

This setback is a truly devastating career blow for Overeem. He’s never been able to live up to the hype since a sensational debut against Brock Lesnar at UFC 141. He destroyed the former titlist in less than a round but has gone just 1-3 since that high point. All three of those losses have been by knockout as he was also finished by Antonio Silva and Travis Browne.

The former Strikeforce heavyweight champion seemed poised to finally make a title run after an impressive win over Frank Mir at UFC 169, but once again produced disappointment when it mattered most. He comes with a high price tag, so it is conceivable that this latest setback could have him on the chopping block.

With the standout finishing abilities of both competitors it seemed a sure bet that this contest wouldn’t make it to the judges’ scorecards. Once the dust had settled, it was Rothwell raising his stock in a major way, while Overeem saw his fortunes take a dramatic turn for the worse.

Rick LaFitte is an MMA Writer for Rant Sports

 

 

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