Affliction is getting a lot of press based on its main-event of Tim Sylvia versus Fedor Emelianenko. The other major heavyweight match on this card that has potential as being a massive fight is the co-main event.

‘Big’ Ben Rothwell (33-5-0) faces the toughest test of his career when he squares off against former UFC heavyweight champion Andrei Arlovski (12-5-0). For Rothwell, this is an opportunity for him to legitimise his place as a top heavyweight.

For Arlovski it is an opportunity for him to prove to fans that he is not just a shadow of his former self but is actually one of the best heavyweight fighters currently active. Rothwell for me hasn’t exactly been that impressive in some of his bigger fights.

He was given a fight with Ricco Rodriguez in the IFL on 9/20/2007, a fight that was suppose to help cement Rothwell as a star, unfortunately Rothwell couldn’t finish Ricco and ended up having to settle for a lackluster decision victory.

Another big fight for Rothwell in the IFL was a split decision victory over Roy ‘Big Country’ Nelson (13-2-0). Many people believe that Nelson won the fight and deserved a rematch with Rothwell; unfortunately before a rematch with Nelson could be set-up Rothwell severed ties with the IFL.

Rothwell comes from the Miletich training camp which has produced top fighters such as Jens Pulver, Matt Hughes, Jeremy Horn and Tim Sylvia. Rothwell’s teammate and close friend Tim Sylvia is also fighting on the same card against the former Pride world champion Fedor Emelianenko.

Andrei Arlovski is coming off an impressive stoppage win over Jake O’Brien at UFC 81. The pitbull as he is known is currently not only just training for the fight with Rothwell, but is also training hard with legendary boxing coach Freddie Roach as he is set to make his professional boxing debut in September.

This fight will be an all out war, both men should come out swinging and the first man to properly connect could well take a victory. Both men are big power punchers and neither will likely attempt to expose the others ground game if it can be helped. The winner of this fight could get a fight with Fedor on the next Affliction card.

This fight also has the potential to be the fight of the night on July 19.

David Mackie
david.mackie@mmapreview.com