Andrei Arlovski still has Ben Rothwell’s number and has added another championship to his storied resume.
In the main event of BKFC: KnuckleMania 6, former UFC champ Arlovski met incoming BKFC heavyweight champ for the third time in combat sports – the first time in bareknuckle boxing. Arlovski won the first two fights in MMA and has now won the third in a different sport. The official result was a TKO stoppage due to cuts at 1:14 of Round 3.
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Rothwell appeared more hesitant than ever before in the BKFC ring, and Arlovski took full advantage. Arlovski brought the fight to Rothwell, shoving him hard into the rigid ropes and clipping him with a few clean punches in Round 1.
Arlovski was quicker to the punch in Round 2 as well, opening up a nasty cut. In the closing seconds, Arlovski charged forward with a brutal combination, sending Rothwell reeling into the ropes. He didn’t go down, but was clearly hurt from the accurate right hands.
Before the start of the third round, the referee had the doctor check on Rothwell, but the action continued. Rothwell struggled to deal with Arlovski’s speed and accuracy. The fight was paused with less than a minute to go in the round so the doctor could take another look at the gashes on Rothwell’s face – and that’s where it would end.
The pair first met in MMA at Affliction 1 in July 2008. Arlovski won that meeting by TKO in the third round. The rematch took place at UFC on ESPN 4 over a decade later. Once again, Arlovski got his hand raised, that time by unanimous decision.
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Arlovski, 47, has not lost in competition since exiting the UFC in 2024. Since, he’s won four total fights by stoppage; two in BKFC, one in Dirty Boxing Championship, and an exhibition boxing bout under the Misfits Boxing banner.
Rothwell, 44, ripped through the competition in BKFC after his UFC exit. He claimed the heavyweight title in his fourth fight by stopping Mick Terrill in just 36 seconds last January. However, his fantastic run came to a halt at the knuckles of a familiar foe.
BKFC: KnuckleMania 6 official results
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Andrei Arlovski def. Ben Rothwell via TKO (doctor’s stoppage) – Round 3, 1:14 – for heavyweight title
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Lorenzo Hunt def. David Mundell via knockout – Round 4, 0:29
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John Garbarino def. Kaine Tomlinson Jr. TKO (referee stoppage) – Round 5, 0:49
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Ben Bonner def. Tony Soto via unanimous decision (49-46, 48-47, 49-46)
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Patrick Brady def. Bear Hill via unanimous decision (50-42, 50-41, 49-43)
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Jade Masson-Wong def. Crystal Pittman via unanimous decision (50-45, 50-45, 50-45)
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Mike Richman def. Joe Elmore via majority decision (47-47, 48-46, 49-46)
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Charles Bennett def. Pat Sullivan via TKO (punches) – Round 2, 1:56
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Cody Russell def. Harrison Aiken via TKO (punches) – Round 2, 1:16
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Zedekiah Montanez def. Brandon Meyer via knockout – Round 2, 1:59
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Lex Ludlow def. Zach Calmus via unanimous decision (30-26, 30-26, 30-26)
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Prince Nyseam def. Brett Shoenfelt via unanimous decision (30-25, 30-25, 30-25)
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Joshua Oxendine def. Travis Thompson via unanimous decision (30-27, 30-27, 30-27)
This article originally appeared on MMA Junkie: BKFC: KnuckleMania 6: Andrei Arlovski wins heavyweight title by TKO
