Ben Rothwell likes his chances in BKFC’s $25 million tournament.
HOLLYWOOD, Fla. – Ben Rothwell could hardly contain his excitement at the idea of winning $15 million. How could anyone, right?
Rothwell, a former UFC heavyweight and current BKFC champion, is expected to participate in the promotion’s $25 million tournament expected to begin next March. The tournament will consist of 32 fighters weighing from 185 pounds and above. The winner will take $15 million, the runner-up $1 million, and subsequent tiers follow awarding a total of $25 million. Rothwell very much likes the idea of the “World’s Baddest $25 Million Tournament.”
“I got told I’m going to win $15 million this year, so I’m just enthused with excitement because the tournament is tailor-made for me,” Rothwell told MMA Junkie. “I’m still taking it in. It was talked about last year and whatever, but you’re seeing it. It just got dropped, the $25 million tournament is in the works, it’s happening, $15 million to the winner, and who’s going to stop me? I’m really taking all comers. It’s my mission next year. I know what I need to do.”
Being the BKFC heavyweight champion and undefeated in his bareknuckle boxing career, Rothwell has all the confidence in the world heading into the tournament. He’ll also likely be the biggest man there as he stands at 6-foot-4 and weighed in at 274 pounds for his last fight earlier this year. “Big” Ben thinks his size advantage will play in his favor.
“I’m excited to see what my power will do to someone that’s 200, 185 pounds,” Rothwell said. “I think once it happens, they’re never going to allow it again. I’m not hoping for a catastrophe, but these guys have to understand weight classes, and I’m going to show why there’s weight classes.”
Rothwell, 43, has been competing professionally in combat sports since 2001. Despite having more than 53 professional MMA fights and 12 years competing in the UFC, Rothwell has never pocketed a purse like the one being offered in BKFC’s tournament. There’s a lot of work to do to get it, but Rothwell sees the life-changing money as a real possibility.
“That’s a hefty sum,” Rothwell said. “There’s obviously champions in other organizations that have made some good money. I fell short in some big moments that I needed to make that kind of money happen. It didn’t happen for me. I had a pretty good career. I know I’m at the higher end. I know a lot of fighters, many, many fighters, have not made the money that I have made, but $15 million in one lump sum would blow away anything I’ve done.”
