Ben Rothwell reveals ultimate career send-off Plan. Ben Rothwell, the 44-year-old former UFC veteran and current BKFC heavyweight champion, has opened up about the final chapter of his fighting career and he’s made it clear he wants to go out on his own terms.
Rothwell, a longtime mixed martial artist who transitioned to bare-knuckle boxing with BKFC (Bare Knuckle Fighting Championship), is preparing to defend his heavyweight title against Andrei Arlovski at Knuckle Mania VI. While he says he still loves competing, he also admitted that “he’s only got so much time left” in the sport.
Now in his mid-40s, Rothwell said that while his body feels better without the brutal weight cuts of MMA, he knows he can’t fight forever.
After a long career that spanned more than two decades, he explained that the sport has become deeply entwined with his identity but that he also wants to finish his career with meaning, not regret
“It sucks because I’ve only got so much time [left],” Rothwell told MMA Fighting. “Andrei, look at my opponent, that f*cking guy just keeps trucking along and fighting and he’s still in good shape. Obviously, I’m not young either. I have a pretty long career but he was fighting on the big stage before me and he here is on the big stage and he’s a couple of years older than me. He’s kind of inspiring at the same time. But it’s just what we do.
“It is my identity. When I do have to retire, I really, really want to make sure I get this shit out of my system. Because obviously this is over half my life has been invested in combat sports now.”
He reflected on only competing once in 2025, when he rocked his opponent in just 36 seconds to win the BKFC heavyweight title, and stressed how much he wants to stay active in 2026 with more fights, ideally leading into the promotion’s massive World’s Baddest Man tournament, featuring a huge $25 million purse and $15 million for the winner.
Rothwell has made it known since the tournament was first announced that he wanted to take part and he couldn’t imagine a better way to finish his career.
“I asked Mr. [David] Feldman, you know what my intentions are,” Rothwell said about his conversation with the BKFC president. “It’s to deal with Andrei the way I have been, I believe in it, I don’t overlook anybody. Andrei is getting all of it because I have to. I can’t take him lightly at all. But upon taking care of it, what’s next and what’s going on with this tournament?
“Because the tournament is the ultimate farewell. Five fights, $15 million price at the end, talk about the Lucky Charms pot of good at the end of the rainbow. That would be one hell of a way to go out. I’d get to stay active, I think that’s fighting like every three months. Five fights, three months apart, ride off into the sunset. That would be the ultimate.”
Now as he prepares to defend his title on Saturday, Rothwell makes it clear that staying busy is paramount right now because he knows for certain that he can’t fight forever.
“I’m really, really, really hoping and praying that I’m going to show the world how good I am against Andrei,” Rothwell said.
“Get through him, I hope I get a little more active in 2026. There’s talks of the tournament. There’s several contenders coming at me. So let me rip.
“ Let me ride off into the sunset after I f*cking get through three or four fights this year. That’d be it. I’d like to get more active. One last hurrah before I’m done.”
Rothwell emphasized that he’s not afraid of challenges, and even welcomed the chance to face Arlovski the veteran rival who previously beat him twice in MMA.
Now Rothwell wants to prove himself and leave the sport with no unfinished business.
“He gets to sit on the high horse like ‘I already beat him twice,’ ” Rothwell said about Arlovski. “Likewise, respectfully it’s hard because I’m trying to say stuff and do stuff and he’s very stoic and his fans are like ‘look how Ben’s acting!’ I’m like because the guy doesn’t say anything! I’ve got to do something!
“ Personally, he knows this. I’ve got something to prove to him. He knows that I didn’t get to fight my best against him. He’s watched what I can do to other guys. I got the belt and he’s trying to take it from me. So f*ck you, Andrei, I’m coming.”
Rather than fading away quietly, Rothwell wants his final fights to reflect everything he has given to the sport. Whether it’s defending his BKFC title, settling old rivalries, or competing on a big stage one last time.
