Ben Rothwell
Active 2009–present · rated in 4 editions · peak overall 82.0
Scouting report
Deceptive agility, overhand rights, and his signature "gogo choke" made Ben "Big Ben" Rothwell an unpredictable heavyweight fixture out of Kenosha, Wisconsin. Rothwell scored a knockout over Alistair Overeem and became the first fighter to submit Josh Barnett in the UFC, his physical power and submission danger reflected in an 89 Strength score, 82 BJJ, and 82 Overall rating.
Peak ratings
By edition
Rothwell established his durable heavyweight presence between 2012 and 2013, knocking out Brendan Schaub in Atlanta and stopping Brandon Vera in Milwaukee, while dropping bouts to Mark Hunt and Gabriel Gonzaga. His 265-pound size, durability, and punching power are reflected in an 86 Durability and 82 Boxing.
Rothwell compiled a three-fight finishing streak between 2014 and 2015, knocking out Alistair Overeem in round one in Mashantucket and submitting Matt Mitrione with a guillotine choke in New Orleans. His chin, front-choke submission danger, and overhand punches anchor his 84 Boxing and 88 Durability.
In January 2016 in Newark, Rothwell submitted Josh Barnett with a guillotine choke in round two, before dropping a five-round striking decision to Junior dos Santos in Zagreb. His front headlock submissions, right hands, and durable frame justify his 83 Boxing and 86 Durability.
In 2019, Rothwell dropped decision losses to Blagoy Ivanov and Andrei Arlovski before scoring a second-round TKO victory over Stefan Struve in Washington D.C. with inside combinations. His durable boxing, physical size, and front-choke submission threat maintain his 82 Boxing and 84 Durability ratings.
Ben Rothwell, the Kenosha heavyweight who beat spinal meningitis
Ben Rothwell is from Kenosha, Wisconsin, and had spinal meningitis at six that left him in a coma and temporarily blind. He began training in 1999 and joined Miletich Fighting Systems in 2002. He went 9-0 in the International Fight League for the Quad City Silverbacks, including a split decision over Roy Nelson. In 2009 he lost his big-promotion debut to Cain Velasquez, then knocked out Brendan Schaub in 2012 and stopped Alistair Overeem in 2014.
Rothwell's eight numbers
Boxing. Good. He knocked out Schaub in round one in 2012.
Kickboxing. His lowest rating. Kicks are not part of what he is known for.
Wrestling. Solid. He tore his ACL on a takedown attempt against Gilbert Yvel in 2010 and still won.
BJJ. One of his best. He submitted Josh Barnett with a guillotine in round two in 2016.
Strength. His highest number. He is a large, powerful heavyweight.
Durability. Very good. He went the distance with Junior dos Santos, though Marcos Rogerio de Lima stopped him in 2021 after he was stunned repeatedly.
Cardio. Modest. He lost decisions to Blagoy Ivanov, Andrei Arlovski and Marcin Tybura late in his career.
Fight IQ. Sound. He stopped Overeem in the first round and submitted Barnett in round two.
Strength at 89 anchors the profile
He is a big, physical man who pushes opponents around. Overeem was stopped in the first round in September 2014, and Barnett was choked out in round two in 2016. He also beat Stefan Struve in 2019 and Ovince Saint Preux in 2020 late in his career.
Kickboxing at 76 is the low spot
Kicks are a small part of his game, and dos Santos outpointed him in 2016. Against a striker who controls range, he has to close distance to get to what he does well.
Keep exploring
Closest heavyweight profiles to Ben Rothwell, measured by how near their peak attribute ratings sit across all eight categories.
- Antonio Silvabest strength 90 · weakest kickboxing 72
- Roy Nelsonbest durability 94 · weakest kickboxing 68
- Gabriel Gonzagabest bjj 88 · weakest cardio 76
- Marcos Rogerio de Limabest strength 89 · weakest bjj 76
- Heavyweight division guide: how the whole division rates and who to draft from it.
- Grappling vs striking in the draft: a guide that fits Ben Rothwell's strongest attribute, Strength.
Draft Ben Rothwell into your build
Ben Rothwell enters the pool on any spin landing on heavyweight between 2010 and 2019. Spin, draft eight attributes, then simulate 25 fights.
Ratings shown are my own estimates, made with AI assistance and informed by how Ben Rothwell is regarded by the MMA community. They are unofficial and do not constitute an assessment of Ben Rothwell's real-world abilities. How the ratings are made. See the disclaimer below. Ratings and write-ups by Haaris A. Last reviewed 2026-09-30; spot an error? Tell us. Read our editorial standards.