Sign up for ESPN+ right here, and you can then stream the UFC live on
your smart TV, computer, phone, tablet or streaming device via the
ESPN app. Two heavy-hitting heavyweights will join an impressive
upcoming UFC Fight Night card in March. First reported by
Combate on Friday, Ben Rothwell
(38-13) will come to blows with Philipe
Lins (14-5) at
UFC Fight Night 187. The two heavyweights will meet inside the
Octagon on March 13 at the UFC Apex in Las Vegas. Rothwell hinted
at his upcoming matchup announcement on Wednesday, but he did
not go so far as to confirm his opponent or its date.
Wisconsin native Rothwell has fallen on hard times the last few
years, with only two wins amidst four decision defeats along with a
lengthy suspension from a failed drug test. In his last time out in
October, Rothwell dropped a decision to Marcin
Tybura to snap a two-fight win streak. Those victories included
a foul-marred knockout of Stefan
Struve, along with a close split decision over ex-light
heavyweight Ovince St.
Preux. With the decision win, Rothwell reduced his career
stoppage rate to 89 percent.
Since departing from the Professional Fighters League after winning the
2018 season and the $1 million prize, things have not gone well for
the former 205-pounder. Two bouts in 2020 were both unsuccessful,
as Andrei
Arlovski held him off to win a decision, and Tanner
Boser knocked him out just over a month later. “Monstro” will
be looking for his first UFC win against the much larger Rothwell,
with the latter regularly hitting the scales at 265 pounds compared
to Lins at right around the 235-pound mark.
UFC Fight Night 187 will be held at the UFC Apex in Las Vegas on
March 13, with a headliner of Leon
Edwards vs. Khamzat
Chimaev at welterweight. As it stands, the co-main event
assignment goes to Jairzinho
Rozenstruik vs. Ciryl Gane
at heavyweight.
