Arlovski vs. Rothwell: A BKFC Re‑Test of Skill vs. Will
- Eric J Herrholz
- 12 hours ago
- 2 min read
As UFC on ESPN 4 reminded the world, Andrei Arlovski already proved he can beat Ben Rothwell. Their first meeting ended with Arlovski’s hand raised, his timing sharper, his composure superior, and his veteran IQ on full display. But combat sports never let a rivalry rest — and now, years later, the story has circled back in the most unforgiving arena possible: BKFC.
This isn’t just a rematch.This is a re‑test — of skill, of will, of legacy.
Rothwell’s Mission: Avenge the Loss
For Ben Rothwell, this fight is personal. He’s stepping into bare‑knuckle combat with one goal: avenge the defeat Arlovski handed him under the UFC & Affliction banners. Rothwell has been promoted as a heavyweight menace in both the UFC and BKFC — a massive frame, a granite chin, and a reputation for chaos inside the cage.
BKFC has positioned him as one of their most dangerous attractions.The UFC once sold him as a dark‑horse contender.
But Arlovski sees it differently.
Arlovski’s Message: “The BKFC Win Will Prove Rothwell Was Oversold.”
In the lead‑up to this fight, Arlovski hasn’t been shy.He’s made it clear that a second victory — this time with no gloves, no excuses, and no room to hide — will expose a truth he believes the world has ignored:
Ben Rothwell was oversold. By the UFC, By BKFC. By the hype machine that surrounds every heavyweight with knockout power.
Arlovski’s stance is simple:If he beats Rothwell again, in a sport built on raw toughness and zero protection, then the narrative changes. The “Big Ben” mystique fades. The marketing collapses. And the real king of this rivalry stands revealed.
Skill vs. Will — The Real Story
This fight is a collision of two very different energies:
Arlovski: Precision, experience, discipline, and a career built on adapting to every era of heavyweight combat.
Rothwell: Pressure, power, durability, and a refusal to back down from chaos.
BKFC strips everything down to the truth.No wrestling.No jiu-jitsu.No padding.Just hands, heart, and honesty.
And that’s why this matchup matters.
The Arrival of a “Real King”
Arlovski believes this fight is more than a rematch — it’s a statement.A declaration that after decades in the sport, after surviving battles inside and outside the cage, he is still the superior fighter. Still the smarter fighter. Still the one who dictates the rivalry.
If he wins again, especially in bare‑knuckle, he says it will prove what he’s known all along:
The real king has arrived — and his name is Andrei Arlovski.
