UFC New Orleans Results: Ben Rothwell Gets Evil on Matt Mitrione

Everybody loves to watch the big men fight. So it was no surprise that No. 9 ranked UFC heavyweight Ben Rothwell was slotted opposite No. 13 Matt Mitrione as the UFC Fight Night 68 co-main event on Saturday night in New Orleans.

The two bruisers had a lot to live up to, as well, after heavyweight Shawn Jordan landed a hook kick and finished Derrick Lewis with a flurry of punches on the ground in the preliminary card’s feature fight.

The fight itself wasn’t the back-and-forth affair that Jordan vs. Lewis was early on, but Rothwell delivered the exciting finish.

RELATED > UFC New Orleans Fight Highlights: Shawn Jordan Takes Out Derrick Lewis

Mitrione was all movement in the opening moments of the fight, continually gliding side to side to avoid standing immediately in front of Rothwell. That worked briefly, but when Mitrione tried to dart in and out with his punches, Rothwell ate his punches and then returned fire, staggering Mitrione a bit.

A short time later, Mitrione landed a kick and then shot for a takedown, but that proved to be a mistake.

Mitrione got the takedown, but Rothwell immediately popped up and turned it to his advantage, locking on a guillotine choke and forcing Mitrione to his back.

“That choke, that’s actions that speak louder than words,” said Rothwell after the fight.

The choke would mark the end of the fight, as Rothwell sunk it deep and put his chest across Mitrione’s face, forcing the tap less than two minutes into the fight.

RELATED > UFC Fight Night 68: Boetsch vs. Henderson Full Live Results

It was an impressive victory for Rothwell, showing another wrinkle in his game, and putting him on a three-fight winning streak.

“The only fight that means anything to me now is that No. 1 contender spot. I will have the UFC title,” said Rothwell.

“I know right now, there is not a man on this planet that can stop me inside this Octagon, and only politics can slow me. I don’t have much else left to say other than you have seen nothing yet.”