"This sport has made me very open minded to anything is possible. Anything can happen, that's how this sport works, so I just do my very best to prepare for anything. My submissions skills are 16 years in the making. We have a full arsenal: we're ready to fight off our back, fight on top, it's what makes me so confident -- I know I can win the fight anywhere the fight goes. I couldn't even tell you how many different submissions I can apply during a fight, so I'm extremely dangerous. If Werdum wants, I'll lay down on my back and he can hop in my guard. I'm very confident I'll submit him. If that fight happens, remember me saying this."
Top Ultimate Fighting Championship (UFC) heavyweight Ben Rothwell (36-9) is slowly but surely knocking off top division contenders on his quest to secure a 265-pound title shot. Among his victims are Alistair Overeem and Josh Barnett, among others, and now "Big Ben" has his sights set on former titleholder Junior dos Santos. They'll square off in the UFC Fight Night 86 main event next month in Zagreb, Croatia, and if Rothwell can upend "Cigano," he's likely a shoo-in for the winner of Fabricio Werdum vs. Stipe Miocic, who collide at UFC 198 in May. Whether or not he can actually submit a submission ace like "Vai Cavalo" remains to be seen, but after watching him tap "The Warmaster" at UFC on FOX 18, I won't rule anything out.
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