One medieval throw of David Heath to the mat turned light heavyweight fighter Tim Boetsch into an overnight sensation in the UFC. Now Boetsch has the opportunity to go 2-0 in the UFC -- in a span of two months -- when he takes on Matt Hamill at Ultimate Fight Night 13, next Wednesday, at the Broomfield Event Center in Broomfield, Colo.
"The Barbarian" took this fight on short notice, much like he did for his Octagon debut at UFC 81: "Breaking Point," when he stepped in for Tomasz Drwal to face Heath.
Once again, Boetsch is a replacement, stepping in for Stephan Bonnar, who was injured during training. Boetsch took the fight on eight weeks notice and believes that he will be ready to go come next Wednesday a winner.
"I don't think it's too soon," Boetsch told MMAmania.com. "As long as I stay injury free, I wouldn't mind fighting every two-three months."
Boetsch boasts an impressive record (7-1) in MMA. In fact, his only loss was a decision to Vladimir Matyushenko at the 2007 IFL Semifinals, which took place last August.
He now looks for his second straight win and knows this is a huge opportunity against Hamill if he wants to climb the long ladder in the UFC light heavyweight division.
"I think it's a huge opportunity. He's got a real strong following from being on the Ultimate Fighter show," Boetsch said. "He's had a lot of success in the UFC already and has already improved his game from when he started. He's a very good athlete."
Boetsch is aware that he is the underdog coming into this fight against Hamill.
"I'm quite the underdog coming into this fight and that's fine by me," Boetsch said. "I'm really excited to get the opportunity and show people what I can do in there."
Boetsch has been fighting in the sport of MMA since fall 2006. He made his debut against Demian Decorah at Madtown Throwdown -- A Wisconsin-based promotion. Boetsch won the fight by submission via strikes in the third round.
After his fight with Matyushenko, Boetsch saw he had a chance to get into the UFC and took full advantage.
His first fight in the UFC was against Heath. And he wasn't concerned about jitters of fighting for the first time inside the eight-sided cage.
"Everybody talks about those first time in the Octagon jitters and of course being in Mandalay Bay in Las Vegas, you don't get much bigger than that," Boetsch said. "I kept my head on straight, stayed focus and didn't get caught up in the hype. Nerves really weren't a factor for me that first fight."
Boetsch defeated Heath by TKO (strikes). Boetsch finished the fight by kneeing Heath and then throwing him to the mat. Boetsch was stunned, much like the rest of the fans watching at Mandalay Bay and at home that night.
"It was like, holy cow, he went down hard," Boetsch said. "He was rocked from taking some knees and some other shots, his equilibrium was off a little bit and then on top of the big throw, his head bounced off the floor and that just sealed the deal for me."
Boetsch does not expect to throw Hamill down, like he did with Heath.
Hamill is fighting in the UFC for the first time since his controversial decision loss to Michael Bisping at UFC 75. Boetsch expects Hamill to come out swinging and ready to go.
"I expect him to come out guns blazing, throwing heavy hands and firing some big takedowns," Boetsch said. "I'm ready for him."
Boetsch is on the second fight of a three fight contract. If all goes well for him next Wednesday night, Boetsch will certainly be a star in the UFC for a long while.
Especially if history can somehow repeat itself.
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