UFC Heavyweight bout: Brendan Scahub vs. Ben Rothwell
Odds: (-300 Schaub /+230 Rothwell )
Betting Pick: Schaub
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In a featured Heavyweight bout, former IFL Heavyweight champion “Big” Ben Rothwell will square off against recent Ultimate Fighter finalist Brendan Schaub. Rothwell’s UFC tenure has been disappointing so far, marked by some upset losses and some ugly performances, and Schaub is coming off a shocking knockout loss at the hands of Antonio Rodrigo Nogueira. The Heavyweight division is UFC’s biggest selling point and Heavyweight stardom can make a guy’s career, so a win in this fight is hugely important for both guys. If they want to remain relevant in a top-heavy division, multiple losses in a row just isn’t an option. Rothwell has been around the block and has a versatile skill set and a lot of experience, but Schaub is a physically dominant athlete with dynamite in his hands, so Rothwell is going to need to show some of his old form if he wants to remain relevant in the UFC.
Ben Rothwell is a tough, experienced veteran with a well-rounded skill set. He has double-digit wins by both knockout and submission, so clearly he is capable of winning fights wherever they might play out. After utterly dominating the IFL’s Heavyweight division, though, Rothwell has had a string of uninspiring performances, dropping three out of his last five fights. Every top Heavyweight Rothwell has fought recently has had their way with him. Rothwell is actually a solid wrestler, but Schaub is so much stronger than him physically that I see Rothwell trying to use his experience to box with Schaub. If Schaub has a weakness it is that his chin is suspect, and Rothwell has the savvy and the punching power to take advantage of that. If he wants to avoid another loss and maybe a ticket out of the UFC, he needs to be aggressive in attacking Schaub’s chin and not let him get set and find his groove offensively.
Brendan Schaub is one of the most exciting and athletic young Heavyweights in the UFC. He was a finalist on The Ultimate Fighter before being knocked out by Roy “Big Country” Nelson, but he followed his performance up with four big wins in a row, three of them coming by T/KO. Schaub is physically dominant, with a lot of speed, explosiveness, and especially punching power. Every punch he throws has fight-ending potential and he can let his hands go at alarming speed. The only things holding Schaub back are that he is prone to letting himself get punched and that his chin is weak. Antonio Rodrigo Nogueira is a great technical boxer, but he has never been known for having much in the way of knockout power, and he flattened Schaub with strikes in their fight. Schaub has killer potential and his punches are going to be hard for anyone to take, but if he ever wants a serious future in the UFC he is going to have to find a way to fight more defensively and only use his explosiveness when it doesn’t leave him wide open to having his glass jaw exploited.
This should be a very competitive match. Rothwell is the more experienced and accomplished of the two, but I don’t think he has an answer for Schaub’s speed and explosive punching power. I think Schaub will beat Rothwell to the punch consistently, use his physical advantages to tire Rothwell out, and eventually pounce in for the kill. Schaub by T/KO.
Prediction: Brendan Schaub by second round T/KO.
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