UFC Predictions: UFC Fight Night: Max Holloway vs. Yair Rodriguez

#2: UFC heavyweight division: Ben Rothwell vs. Marcos Rogerio de Lima

Ben Rothwell has now been in the UFC for well over a decade

To say this heavyweight fight isn’t likely to produce a technical classic would be a massive understatement. However, if both men fight to their ability, we could at least be treated to a watchable slugfest at the UFC Apex in Las Vegas.

Incredibly, Ben Rothwell has now been in the UFC for a total of 12 years, and while he’s nowhere near title contention any more, he’s still one of the trickier outs for most opponents in the division.

‘Big Ben’ is one of the larger heavyweights in the UFC, standing at 6’4” and weighing 265lbs, but he’s surprisingly technical for his size and is more than capable of snatching submissions up, as we saw in his most recent win over Chris Barnett.

However, while he’s not a slow fighter per say, he’s very plodding – particularly at this point in his career – which has meant that fleet-footed strikers have given him plenty of problems.

Thankfully for him, it’d probably be hard to outclass Rogerio de Lima as a fleet-footed striker. ‘Pezao’ loves to exchange bombs with his opponents, but he’s not exactly a stick-and-move fighter. Instead, he’ll throw haymakers before bulling into the clinch to attempt to dish out more damage.

In an alternative universe – one in which Rogerio de Lima stuck around at 205lbs and worked on tuning up his ground game – he could well have developed into a UFC light heavyweight title contender a la Thiago Santos.

However, choosing to stick around and face bigger men in the heavyweight division – while also possessing a questionable ground game – has meant that his UFC record stands at a disappointing 7-5.

How this one goes probably depends on Rothwell. If he decides to wing bombs at Rogerio de Lima then there’s a chance someone will get knocked out. That’s more likely to be the Brazilian, but there is a possibility that he lands first to hurt Rothwell and can outpoint him from there.

If Rothwell looks to clinch, though, and overpowers 'Pezao' to take him down, then there’s every chance he’ll latch onto a choke and take him out. Based on the Brazilian’s usual form, that seems like the most likely outcome.

The Pick: Rothwell via first round submission