Blagoy Ivanov is slightly favored against Ben Rothwell at UFC Fight Night 146 on Saturday, March 9 in Wichita, Kansas. This event is one of six fights on the main card on ESPN+. Ivanov is 16-2 in his career, while Rothwell is 36-10 in his career. There are a total of six fights on the main card on ESPN+ at UFC Fight Night 146, with the headliner a bout between Derrick Lewis and Junior dos Santos. There are also a total of seven fights on the preliminary card all on ESPN+. Let’s look at the bout between Ivanov and Rothwell and UFC predictions.
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Blagoy Ivanov (16-2, 0-1 UFC)
Ivanov came into the UFC with a record of 16-1 and he has no wins and one loss in the UFC. He lost to Junior dos Santos by unanimous decision on July 14, 2018. Ivanov’s last win was against Caio Alencar by unanimous decision on November 2, 2017. Ivanov has been a pro since 2007 and has six wins by TKO/KO and six by submission. He has eight first round finishes.
Ivanov said this to bjpenn.com about his upcoming fight against Rothwell, “This is why I am in the UFC, to fight with the best guys in the world. This is why I’m here; I want to fight with the best. He is a tough guy, tough opponent. He is one of the guys who have the most experience in the cage in heavyweight. I prepared hard and I feel great for this fight so we will see Saturday. “I think it will be hard for him, but you never know in heavyweight. One punch can change everything and I have some tactics, and we will see who is more prepared.”
Ben Rothwell (36-10, 6-4 UFC)
Rothwell came into the UFC with a record of 30-6 and he has six wins and four losses in the UFC. He defeated Gilbert Yvel by unanimous decision, Brendan Schaub by KO, Brandon Vera by TKO, Alistair Overeem by TKO, Matt Mitrione by submission, and Josh Barnett by submission; while losing to Cain Velasquez by TKO, Mark Hunt by unanimous decision, Gabriel Gonzaga by submission, and Junior dos Santos by unanimous decision. Rothwell has been a pro since 2001 and has 20 wins by TKO/KO and 13 by submission. He has 28 first round finishes.
Striking Stats
Strikes landed per minute: Ivanov 2.04 / Rothwell 2.89
Accuracy: Ivanov 22% / Rothwell 41%
Strikes absorbed per minute: Ivanov 4.40/ Rothwell 3.92
Defense: Ivanov 55% / Rothwell 46%
Grappling Stats
Takedown average: Ivanov 0.00/ Rothwell 0.84
Accuracy: Ivanov 0% / Rothwell 36%
Takedowns defended: Ivanov 100% / Rothwell 69%
Submission average: Ivanov 0.0/ Rothwell 0.4
UFC Predictions
Rothwell hasn’t fought in nearly three years because of a knee injury and then a suspension for a failed drug test. He was the first to submit former champion Josh Barnett but he suffered a decision loss to Junior dos Santos and really hasn’t been heard from since. Even though Rothwell has been off for the last three years, he still has a good chance of winning this fight. Ivanov is just an average fighter who will wildly throw punches and hope something hits. I think Rothwell has something to prove and we know he is a talented fighter. I will take the underdog Rothwell to get the win.
UFC Fight Night 146 takes place at Intrust Bank Arena in Wichita, Kansas on Saturday, March 9, with six fights on the main card on ESPN+, headlined by Derrick Lewis vs. Junior dos Santos and seven preliminary bouts on ESPN+.
Main Card (ESPN+)
Heavyweight - Junior dos Santos -220 vs. Derrick Lewis
Welterweight - Curtis Millender -127 vs. Elizeu Zaleski dos Santos
Welterweight - Tim Means -220 vs. Niko Price
Heavyweight - Blagoy Ivanov -127 vs. Ben Rothwell
Lightweight - Beneil Dariush -200 vs. Drew Dober
Middleweight - Omari Akhmedov -127 vs. Tim Boetsch
Preliminary Card (ESPN+)
Welterweight - Anthony Rocco Martin -195 vs. Sérgio Moraes
Women's Bantamweight - Yana Kunitskaya -187 vs. Marion Reneau
Featherweight - Grant Dawson -180 vs. Julian Erosa
Heavyweight - Jeff Hughes -215 vs. Maurice Greene
Bantamweight - Louis Smolka -125 vs. Matt Schnell
Welterweight - Alex Morono -185 vs. Zak Ottow
Lightweight - Alex White -160 vs. Dan Moret
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