Two veterans of the sport will go head to head in the heavyweight division, as “Big Ben” Rothwell (31-7) faces Mark “The Super Samoan” Hunt (6-7). Both warriors have had great success outside of the UFC, whilst having fallen short within it and will be hoping to make one last surge toward the top end of a formidable heavyweight roster.

Rothwell has proved throughout his career that he is dangerous in all facets of the game, with eighteen wins by knockout and ten by way of submission. His reputation has been built within the now folded International Fight League, having gone 9-0 within the promotion, with standout victories over Ultimate Fighter Winner Roy Nelson, former UFC Heavyweight Champion Ricco Rodriguez and twice successful over another Ultimate Fighter alumni, Krzysztof Soszynski – the second time taking a mere thirteen seconds.

Hunt is a former PRIDE star whose light has diminished significantly in recent years, yet his credentials as an elite striker were first forged within Japan’s leading kickboxing promotion, K-1, where he became known for his immense power and striking talent, as well as his granite chin and durability, claiming the Grand Prix title back in 2001. He then took his considerable girth into MMA, signing with PRIDE, and in only his third contest, defeated a heavily outsized Wanderlei Silva (handing the then Pride Middleweight Champion his first defeat in four years) and avenged a loss in K-1 to another PRIDE legend, Mirko Crocop.

Surprisingly, Rothwell made his UFC debut only two fights ago, where he was fed to a rising contender by the name of Cain Velasquez. In hindsight it was a baptism of fire to be paired with the now Heavyweight Champion, but at the time Rothwell was coming off huge success in the IFL, with his sole loss in fourteen contests coming only at the doomed and short lived ‘Affliction’ promotion, to another former UFC Champion, Andrei Arlovski. After his defeat to Velasquez, the previously Pat Miletich trained charge, rallied impressively to claim a unanimous decision victory over dangerous Dutch striker Gilbert Yvel, but sustained serious injury throughout the contest, tearing his ACL during a takedown and suffering a deviated septum from a head kick. He returns after a near sixteen month absence and will be hoping to vanquish another former Pride vet- in the shape of  ‘Oceania Super Fighter’ Mark Hunt.

When the UFC acquired PRIDE and the Japanese outfit subsequently ended, they were contractually obliged to hand Hunt his UFC debut. Unfortunately for the New Zealand born kickboxer, it was a short lived affair, losing to Sean McCorkle due to arm lock, at only one minute and three seconds into the very first round. Yet the UFC showed an uncharacteristic leniency, granting Hunt a second contest in the promotion where their decision proved justified, as Hunt won ‘Knockout of the Night’ honors with a memorable finish of Chris Tuchscherer, halting a six fight losing skid in the process. The problem for Hunt is that submission stylists, or in fact anyone with a decent ground game, have proven to be the scourge of his career, with six of his seven losses ending by tap-out, or often in Hunt’s case, a loud yelp of agony, as he struggles to break free.

Rothwell has proven knockout power and trains with Duke Roufus, who is one of the best striking coaches in the business, but he must be sensible in his approach to this contest and has a huge advantage on the ground, where Hunt has previously resembled something akin to a beached whale.

The likeable Hunt, is a throwback to a previous era where competitors were more fighter then athlete, but there remain few that can generate his raw punching power and the longer the former K-1 King can remain vertical, the better his chances of felling the six-foot-five Rothwell.

As long as Rothwell avoids a slug-fest and comes out aggressive, driving Hunt back against the cage and crucially, onto the mat, then it will only be a matter of time before he contorts Hunt into another painful submission and notches up another victory.

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Tags: Ben Rothwell, Mark Hunt, UFC, UFC 135