411 MMA Interview: Ben Rothwell!
Posted by Lotfi Sariahmed on 09.17.2007
What are you doing this Thursday people? The correct answer is paying attention to the IFL Finals down in Florida! As part of its continuing coverage leading up to the Finals, 411Mania's Lotfi Sariahmed talked to Silverbacks star heavyweight Ben Rothwell! What did "Northstar" have to say about his fight this Thursday? 411Mania talks to Rothwell about everything from that fight, to his rematch with Roy Nelson and his culinary abilities all inside!
The IFL has a few big name stars that you need to know about. Palaszewski, Horodecki, Radach and Heleno are just some of those names. But the biggest name of all is Ben "Northstar" Rothwell. The 6'4" 265 lbs+ heavyweight for the Silverbacks is undefeated in the IFL and has finished all his fights except for one. Rothwell is going into the IFL Finals on the 20th looking 9th win against Tom Sauer of the New York Pitbulls. Rothwell recently took the time to talk to 411Mania.com in this exclusive interview where he touched on everything from his fight on the 20th to his career and his cooking.
411Mania.com: I don't know if you this Ben, but you're not a small guy. I talked to Mike Ciesnolevicz last week and he told you're cutting down to make heavyweight. But when a lot of guys your size are playing in the NFL, how did you make your way into MMA?
Ben Rothwell: Well I had coaches in high school who tried to get me into football but it just wasn't for me. When I was 17 I was a junior in high school and I got started in MMA. I happened to start learning from a coach that started with Pat Miletich and he brought it back to my hometown and start teaching it himself. So I was lucky enough to start learning everything at once. I had never had prior martial arts training. I was lucky enough to start learning the jiu-jitsu and wrestling. That was another aspect I never considered in fighting. I just did it for self-defense. It's just something that you know when you're meant to be something. I felt like it was something I was meant to do because I really loved it. The competition just kind of came natural and I started winning right away and that only encouraged to keep doing it. Eight years later here I am.
411Mania.com: You live in Wisconsin but train in Bettendorf Iowa with Team Miletich. How did you end up joining Pat Miletich and the Silverbacks and how do do you deal with that travel back and forth?
Rothwell: In 2004 I was pretty much considering quitting because of a lack of training partners. I wasn't getting along with the coach that was there, things like that. I knew who Pat (Miletich) was; I fought Tim Sylvia back in 2001. We fought a 15-minute war. So Pat knew me from that and he trained me a couple of times prior to that as well. My fiancée at the time, who educated herself about MMA, knew Pat and who the team was and said why don't you call the guys? She knew that there was no one else really in the area. It just so happened that in my mind that was one of the best teams in the world and they were three hours away. So I called Pat and he knew who I was and he said I should come down and train for a week. I did. I was the first guy to backpedal Sylvia in three years and Pat really liked that and I really clicked a lot with a lot of the guys. He liked the fact that I was pretty well rounded already walking in there. I was tough enough to get through that first week and he asked me when I was going to come back. I didn't even think twice, I said I'd be back next week. Then I told my mom and my family that I was going to move out there and start training full time. It was probably the best thing I have ever done really. It got me back into the sport and really turned my career around as a fighter. Now this is my full time residence and I go back to Wisconsin as like a weekend thing. Three hours each way sucks but after I've done it so many times it wasn't a big deal. I did it for my daughter, I'm not with the mother and it's just one of those things that if I was going to fight and train here I had to go back to her. There was nod dispute about it. I just had to do it.
411Mania.com: The saying goes behind every good man there's a good woman. How important has your fiancée Jen been to you coming up in the fight business?
Rothwell: Unfortunately a lot of guys get with the wrong kind of women that are selfish or they don't understand how much goes into fighting. There are guys out there who still think; "Oh I just watch it on TV. I'll get in there and do it." No, they don't realize it's a full-time job going through all the training. There's a lot of traveling and a lot of down time where I have to leave her. Some women can't take it and they freak out. They have no trust; trust is a big thing too. It screws guys up. Then guys a lot of times care about the women but then he'll make choices based on her and not his career and it ends up costing him. Once in a while you're lucky enough to get a lady that I have who knows what needs to be done. A lot of times she comes with me when she can just to watch. I have my ritual I have to keep prior to the fight but it's so good to have her support in the crowd. Sometimes she can't go and we just get through it. I guess her and I have a unique relationship too. For a couple of years in the relationship she was going to school in Carthage and I was here training during the week. So just in that alone we have a unique relationship. She also helps encourage me. She's into personal training, into her health, eating organic and things like that. For a fighter that helps too, she's trying to help me with my diet and watches over me. That really helps out.
I was always concerned about putting out a good product and other people liking it.
411Mania.com: One more thing before we get into the fight on the 20th, you're an aspiring chef. Your parents own a restaurant in Wisconsin and needless to say for a fighter of your stature is an interesting contrast. Do your teammates rag on you for your cooking?
Rothwell: My mom is a full blown chef and she's really great at what she does. So being in the restaurant business I picked up on a few things. I had to take care of myself a lot so I had to learn how to cook but I was just enjoying doing that. Then I got into high school and I helped her more in the kitchen with the restaurant and that was my job. I was trying to help her out and I think I did a good job. I was always concerned about putting out a good product and other people liking it. I like to eat and cook for myself too. My girlfriend yells at me when we go out to eat because I'm so picky and like to have things done a certain way. Most of the time I just go back into the kitchen and cooking it myself. I enjoy coming up with different things and I really like to create things with a lot of flavor. I like it when I can cook and people enjoy what I make. The guys eat it and love it when I cook. I live with Rory (Markham) and Mike (Ciesnolevicz) and Rory is one of my guinea pigs. Mike tries to be mean about it a lot of times. Rory is really up front and he likes a lot of stuff that I make. Ryan (McGivern) took over Mike C's spot. He doesn't even like fish really but there are certain type of fish that I can get him to eat so that made me feel pretty good.
411Mania.com: If you get Jen all upset what are you cooking to smooth things over?
Rothwell: There's nothing I can cook. That's a trip to the candy store and get some good chocolate. That's how I win that one over. Or there's a trip to my buddy Cold Stone.
411Mania.com: All right, now lets get into the Finals on the 20th. The big news of late was that you were going to face Pitbulls light heavyweight Jamal Patterson. Now we know that's not going to happen, but what were your thoughts when the IFL came to you with that fight?
Rothwell: It kind of shocked me. We've had a good relationship. Anytime we've been around we always kind of kid around with each other but we're always respectful. We have serious conversations about stuff. Jamal and I could easily train together. If I were born on the East Coast I'd probably be training at Renzo's (Gracie's Academy). Even Bryan Vetell and I we have a good relationship. We talk on lots of occasions. If we were going to compete against each other it would be strictly professional. It's kind of the same way with Jamal. We get along but the fact that he's a 205-er I was kind of shocked that he even wanted to fight me. They said he asked for the fight. I don't know all the specifics or if that's exactly how it went down. Some people thought that wasn't the case like he might have gotten pushed into it. I don't know. But I was thinking he's looking to do the Randy Couture. I know it wasn't directly Jamal disrespecting me but I just felt like I have to fight for myself here. It kind of pumped me up. I don't really take anyone lightly it doesn't matter who I fight. But I was really going to get pumped up for the Jamal fight. I wasn't going to give him any slack whatsoever.
411Mania.com: The fight with Patterson never came to fruition and now you're facing Tom Sauer. What can you tell us about him?
Rothwell: He's been around a long time. He hasn't fought so much in the last couple of years but the guy has a win against Jeff Monson. He's fought a lot of tough guys. He beat Valentijn Overeem. He's fought a few different UFC and PRIDE veterans. He's like 20-11. He just fights everybody. Let me tell you. He doesn't care he's fighting me. He's the kind of guy that could be fighting Fedor. He doesn't care. He'll go out there and throw at Fedor. He's a dangerous guy in that sense. No one can take him lightly. He's pretty well-rounded. He throws punches. He has strong wrestling. He throws submissions off his back. He's really strong for how big he is. He's fought at 205 and he'll probably be coming in around 220-230.
411Mania.com: So you've gone from facing Bryan Vetell to possibly having to deal with Jamal Patterson and now Tom Sauer. I know Pat has you prepare for everyone like they're Fedor Emelianenko but does that bother you as a fighter having to deal with so many different opponents?
Rothwell: The thing is I could sit here and get mad about it or complain to the IFL but I'm just going to hurt myself. I've always had an open mind just be ready for everything. In a sport like ours, guys are going to get hurt. Things are going to get switched up. Luckily I have the experience to get me through these kind of things. I've been doing it for a while and even in other shows before the IFL I have been dealing with things like this. It's just one of those things, you should train to be ready for anybody and if you're not and it's upsetting you then you're doing something wrong. So I just take it with stride and it's allowed me to perform better.
411Mania.com: On that same note, Fedor is still a free agent and a lot of people are negotiating with him including the IFL. What are your thoughts on potentially bringing in Fedor Emelianenko to the IFL? Has Kurt (Otto) told you anything about those negotiations?
Rothwell: No and I couldn't see it happening. Honestly, the league's trying to start out and build stars and they're going to bring in someone like that? The money I would think would cripple a lot of aspects of trying to help us out and get us built up. We'd basically take all our money just to feed Fedor. I don't think that's a good move honestly. But who am I? I have no say in it.
411Mania.com: Getting back to the Finals bout, this has been a tougher season than usual for this team but you're still in the Finals. What keeps this team hungry enough to win another ring?
Rothwell: For us, it's a big deal. The IFL is brand new with this whole team concept and everything. So for us to come out and be a team that repeats right away is really leaving a stamp. For us that's a big deal, to come out and be the first team to start a dynasty and be a repeating team like that. I don't forsee another team being able to do that again for a while. The league just keeps getting tougher. When we won our first championship Steve Rusk said, "You guys better enjoy these rings because next year it's going to be a lot harder to get them." And now here we are in the championship round trying to get another ring. It was harder but that just shows that we picked it up and we got what it takes. It means a lot and it would be really great to finish this season winning this championship again.
I wouldn't want to fight the guy I'm going to be three years from now.
411Mania.com: Everytime you do an interview with some media outlet or conduct some press conference you always talk about the fighter you're going to be. When is that point? How do you know you've made it?
Rothwell: It's one of those things that really never stops you always have to keep learning. But there will come a time when things aren't going to change that much. But there are still a lot of changes that are going to take place for me in the next couple of years for sure. I just see that I can improving and there are things I can keep working on. I see some drastic changes. When I fought Krysztof (Soszynski the 2nd time) everyone said he was such an improved fighter who was completely different. He's done this and he's done that. He was 3-3 for the season. I was like, "Great, I'm glad you guys haven't noticed me that I'm 7-0." I made some changes too. To go out and put him out in 13 seconds didn't just happen because of luck. It was because of all the work I've done and the way I was able to move my feet and throw my hands, that was a sure sign I've made some improvements. That's the kind of stuff I'm talking about. That was just in a year's time. I'm serious, I wouldn't want to fight the guy I'm going to be three years from now.
411Mania.com: Lets look at the other team bouts on the card that night. The last time Mike Ciesnolevicz fought Andre Gusmao he was knocked out in the 2nd round. What do you think makes this second fight different?
Rothwell: The fact that Mike honestly went into a fight not knowing what he was going up against. He totally had a gameplan that was wrong. He was going to go in there and bang with the guy because he thought the guy was a ground guy. Then Gusmao ended up being the Muay-Thai instructor at Renzo's gym. Whoops. He knows that. He feels like even in the fight he got to show a few times that he was fine on the ground. If he would have fought like he normally fights he probably would have had a good fight. The outcome could have been a lot different. This time around he knows what he needs to do. He's got to see Gusmao fight a few times. He knows some of his tricks and how he does things and I think that's going to make a big difference.
411Mania.com: With this team aspect of the IFL, how do you mentally approach fight night? Do you go in thinking sweep? Do you just want to get the three wins and be done with it? How do you approach it?
Rothwell: Everyone asks what's the outcome going to be and I say 5-0 because there's not a single time that I don't believe we couldn't have won 5-0. It hasn't happened for our team. We've always had that one or two losses but that's because it's MMA and anything could happen. You just deal with it as positively as you can. You know everything has done the work and good things should happen. But don't kid yourself into thinking bad things can't happen. You're confident but don't ever be overconfident. Don't ever underestimate anybody. We went against the (Chicago) Red Bears and everyone said, "Oh that's a guaranteed win. These guys suck." Yeah, well it was 3-2. It wasn't that we underestimated those guys it's just that things happen. We trained hard for those guys and we knew better. They actually had a lot tougher guys than most people thought. Mentally stay strong and always prepare for the worst, that's what Pat does everytime with us.
411Mania.com: Do you consider yourself a leader on this team?
Rothwell: You know why our team is so strong? Because each one of our guys could be leaders. We're not leaders where we're all trying to talk over each other. We're all leaders. I'm the leader at heavyweight, Mike C's the leader at 205 and Rory's the leader at 170. We're all leaders in our own right and that's why we go out there and do what we do. We listen to each other but we don't downtalk to each other and that's really good. We help motivate each other. When it comes down to it, we always submit to Pat. Pat's the man, he's the coach and what he says goes. I might complain every so often with what he puts me through but I still do it no matter what. I might complain. But I still do it. That's the way it has to be. When it's done and over with I'm always thankful I did it.
411Mania.com: Lets look ahead to November 3rd and the World Grand Prix. Do you expect anything to change with regard to training or anything else since this is an individual event?
Rothwell: We're not really focused too much on the future. Our future is the next fight on the 20th and that's our main focus. We're focused on staying healthy and getting through these fights because anything could happen and everyone knows that. Our main concern is being healthy and getting through this next fight. Then when we get through this next fight we'll worry about what's next on our plate.
411Mania.com: While you're undefeated in the IFL, in the Grand Prix you'll get your rematch against the one guy who took you to a decision in Roy Nelson. Is there anything you point to in that first fight and say this is why I had some problems?
Rothwell: I didn't underestimate him or anything. I knew that guy was tough. I probably knew better than most people knew because a lot of people didn't know who he was. I unfortunately just had a few things I did wrong as far as dieting and things I ate the night before the fight. I know people think that doesn't make a difference and I'll tell you bull everytime because it does. I've proven it to myself anyways. I don't care what anyone else does. To me personally I know what I did wrong. There's a couple of things that I can do that will make a difference. I was definitely not moving like I should be. I was flat on my feet and I wasn't moving my head. I was getting hit and those are things that just can't happen and they're unacceptable. I was just mad about my performance because that's someone I definitely should have ended. That fight should not have gone to a decision. 30 wins, 29 finishes. I have one decision win now because of him, because the guy's got a tough head. Not to take anything away from him but he's making it personal. I try to be a nice guy and I get along with all my opponents. Then I listen to the TV show and the stuff he says I could only really shake my head at it.
All I can hear is garbage coming out of his mouth.
411Mania.com: So I think it's safe to say that if everything goes well in the finals, this is a fight that you're definitely looking forward to.
Rothwell: Well I need to take care of him. I mean I need to deal with this. He's running his mouth saying he's the one that's undefeated. That he's already beat me once. I paid the judges off and the IFL is going to have the Silverbacks win no matter what. All I can hear is garbage coming out of his mouth. I really can't believe he's let himself reach that level where he's talking like that but he did. I'm the kind of guy where I always tell everyone I go in there and it's real professional. But if you make the fight personal with me the fight becomes something else. I definitely fight a lot different I'll say that.
411Mania.com: In the other match-up at heavyweight in the Grand Prix, Reese Andy is taking on Antoine Jaoude. Who do you like in that match-up?
Rothwell: Reese is a tough guy coming in and doing what he's doing. But I don't see him beating Jaoude. I mean Reese and Jaoude have some of the same skill set and Jaoude's better at it and has a few more weapons with the striking and submission game. Anything could happen and Reese could go out there and stuff a couple of good takedowns and have control for three rounds. But I don't see that happening. I see Jaoude controlling the fight and probably utilizing his wrestling skills to stop Reese's and peppering him up. Jaoude has some weapons so he could hit a submission or a knockout. I don't see Reese winning that fight as tough as he is.
411Mania.com: Now, I wouldn't be doing my job if I didn't ask you for a prediction come the 20th. Are you going to stay undefeated and just as important, will you walk away with a ring?
Rothwell: I don't make a lot of predictions but I can guarantee you I'm going to fight exciting and I'm always looking to end that fight no matter what. I don't care how I do it. I could at least give you that much. As far as our team walking away with a ring we very well should. I don't see there's any reason we can't. We're fighting a tough team and we know that but we fought nothing but tough teams this year. Silverbacks won last year for the same reason I think we're going to win this year.
411Mania.com: Are there any sponsors you want to mention before we let you go?
Rothwell: Of course I want to thank the IFL for what they're doing. My coaches, Pat Miletich, Steve Rusk and the team here at Miletich. We have Full Contact Fighter, Tapout, VitaminEnergy, Muscle Milk of course, CytoSports are doing a great job for us I want to thank them a lot for their help. Bowman MMA in Canada, a MFS affiliate, he helps us out a lot. The guy is great. I just wanted to thank you too. I always thank the media for doing what they do. You guys do a great job of getting our sport out there and you're really important and you have a lot to do with why our sport is still around.
