Ben Rothwell marched into Croatia’s UFC Fight Night 86 riding high on a four-fight winning streak, hoping to take down Junior dos Santos and put himself into the heavyweight title picture. However, dos Santos, the former UFC heavyweight champ, executed perfectly and barely let Ben Rothwell do anything over 25 minutes.
JDS would stick and move and decimate Rothwell with quick jabs to the gut while always staying out of the way of Rothwell’s lumbering zombie mode. As the match went on, Rothwell would fade, his face would grow and become an interesting shade of purple and blue, and JDS would look the best he has in years. It was truly a perfect fight.
But what does this mean for the UFC heavyweight division? JDS is 3-3 since he lost the belt to Cain Velasquez, but lesser challengers have been given title shots before, and JDS has already defeated champ Fabricio Werdum. Is he next in line?
Main Card
—Junior dos Santos def. Ben Rothwell via unanimous decision.
WOW! Big Ben eats a MONSTER overhand and gets push-kicked to the ground! What a chin on Rothwell! #UFCZagreb https://t.co/HSsV0VeJ1c
— FOX Sports: UFC (@UFCONFOX) April 10, 2016
We've got a battle of the Superman punches in the Octagon! #UFCZagreb https://t.co/4666lbTgrK
— FOX Sports: UFC (@UFCONFOX) April 10, 2016
—Derrick Lewis def. Gabriel Gonzaga via knockout (Round 1)
—Francis Ngannou def. Curtis Blaydes via TKO (doctor’s stoppage) (Round 2)
The doctor calls a stop to Ngannou vs. Blaydes due to Blaydes' swollen eye hindering his ability to see #UFCZagreb https://t.co/0wj58Xzvwe
— FOX Sports: UFC (@UFCONFOX) April 10, 2016
—Timothy Johnson def. Marcin Tybura via unanimous decision
—Jan Blachowicz def. Igor Pokrajac via unanimous decision
These guys are throwing bombs! #UFCZagreb https://t.co/YvxoLHTe4a
— FOX Sports: UFC (@UFCONFOX) April 10, 2016
—Maryna Moroz def. Cristina Stanciu via unanimous decision
Undercard
—Zak Cummings def. Nicolas Dalby via unanimous decision
—Alejandro Perez def. Ian Entwistle via verbal submission (Round 1)
Alejandro Perez blasted through Andy Entwistle! That's 3-straight 1st RD finishes on the #UFCZagreb Prelims! https://t.co/ZE2RD6tXkI
— FOX Sports: UFC (@UFCONFOX) April 10, 2016
—Mairbek Taisumov def. Damir Hadzovic via TKO (Round 1)
Alejandro Perez blasted through Andy Entwistle! That's 3-straight 1st RD finishes on the #UFCZagreb Prelims! https://t.co/ZE2RD6tXkI
— FOX Sports: UFC (@UFCONFOX) April 10, 2016
—Damian Stasiak def. Filip Pejic via rear-naked choke (Round 1)
Fight Pass prelims
—Lucas Martins def. Robert Whiteford via split decision
—Jared Cannonier def. Cyril Asker via knockout (Round 1)
—Bojan Velickovic def. Alessio Di Chirico via unanimous decision