Rothwell signs UFC contract.

by Loretta Hunt (lhunt@sherdog.com)


Another abandoned Affliction bout has found a home.

Ben Rothwell and Chase Gormley will make their Octagon debuts in a
heavyweight bout at UFC 104 on Oct. 24 at the Staples Center in Los
Angeles, according to a source with knowledge of the negotiations.

The matchup had originally been scheduled to take place at Affliction
“Trilogy” on Aug. 1. However, Affliction Entertainment cancelled its
anticipated third event 10 days out, after main event fighter Josh
Barnett tested positive for an anabolic steroid in a pre-fight test.

Rothwell (30-6) rebounded from a third-round knockout loss to Andrei
Arlovski at Affliction 1 in July 2008 to submit Chris Guillen with
elbows in the first round at Adrenaline MMA 2 last December. An IFL
standout, the Wisconsin native has won 16 out of 18 bouts since 2004,
including victories over Roy Nelson, Ricco Rodriguez, and Krzysztof
Soszynski.

The 25-year-old Gormley was an NAIA All-American Wrestler for
Lindenwood University. Gormley (6-0) earned a unanimous decision
against former super heavyweight Eric Pele at MFC 16 in June 2008.

Greg Savage contributed to this report.


Wolfnote : With this signing, this leaves only a hand full of fighters, Hieron, Horodecki, Radach and Ryan Schultz, as the only high-profile IFL talent to not eventually find their way into the UFC. The one thing that concerns me with the future of MMA where there are no more mid-major promotions producing talent, is where the UFC will find it's future competators.

TUF?

Local Shows?

M-1?

Ugh, TUF being the sole producer of future prospects would be terrible. I hate that show. I loved watching the IFL. Reality TV shouldn't replace a minor league system. M-1 will be fucking black listed if the Fedor thing falls through.

Local shows ya, but how will MMA nerds learn about them without scouring through endless blogs?


MMA needs a minor league system that isn't the WEC. I really miss the IFL.

MMA nerds will look through the blogs or wait until the UFC finds them.

They'll train at well known gyms and get noticed eventually.

If the UFC keeps profiting then can expand the roster and put on more fights.

Well I won't scour through blogs and I am pretty sure most of use are MMA nerds.

I think Horodecki is gonna end up in the UFC

But on topic - The additions of Rothwell and Nelson have quietly expanded the depth in the UFC's HW division as both of these guys easily have top 15 talent.

Wolfgangsta wrote:

But on topic - The additions of Rothwell and Nelson have quietly expanded the depth in the UFC's HW division as both of these guys easily have top 15 talent.

Very true.

I want both these guys to get bigger tests. We've seen they couldn't quite handle Arvolski, but maybe someone like Cro Cop or Kongo would be good match ups for them.

Rothwells wrestling is not good enough to compete in the ufc.

Rothwell just reminds me of the maine-iac... but he's a good addition to the UFC HW division

muayjitsu wrote:

Rothwells wrestling is not good enough to compete in the ufc.

Tell that to Kongo and Pat Berry.

Wolfgangsta wrote:

muayjitsu wrote:

Rothwells wrestling is not good enough to compete in the ufc.

Tell that to Kongo and Pat Berry.

Hey Kongo Hey Pat..... Your lack of wrestling will never let you be a legit contender in your division. There its done. Love watching pat fight though.

muayjitsu wrote:

Wolfgangsta wrote:

muayjitsu wrote:

Rothwells wrestling is not good enough to compete in the ufc.

Tell that to Kongo and Pat Berry.

Hey Kongo Hey Pat..... Your lack of wrestling will never let you be a legit contender in your division. There its done. Love watching pat fight though.

Haha, it's funny because it's true.

Rothwell isn't a kickboxer with lacking MMA skills though, he did great on the ground against AA. I disagree with the premise.

Well i agree to disagree.