UFC 145 Preview: The Main Card

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Heavyweights
Brendan Schaub (8-2, 4-2 UFC) vs. Ben Rothwell (31-8, 1-2 UFC)

The Matchup: When we last saw Rothwell, he was gasping for breath in the thin air of Denver at UFC 135. Give the longtime IFL veteran credit for surviving the assault of an equally tired Mark Hunt, however. Even though Rothwell didn’t win, he showed plenty of resolve by making it through the fight.

Schaub, meanwhile, will have to rebound from a devastating knockout loss to Antonio Rodrigo Nogueira in Rio de Janeiro. While it made for an electric moment in the home country of one of the sport’s most respected veterans, the loss raised questions about Schaub’s chin that had been dormant since his KO loss to Roy Nelson at “The Ultimate Fighter 10” Finale in 2009. A former football player at the University of Colorado, Schaub is blessed with the type of sheer athleticism that few heavyweights have. Still, he must proceed with caution in order to avoid a repeat of the Nogueira and Nelson bouts.

Rothwell has been known to fancy a good brawl, but it would be in his best interest to make this fight as ugly as possible. That means getting ahold of Schaub, grinding him into the fence and wearing him down with takedowns and measured punches on the mat. The Wisconsin native must be persistent in this approach, because Schaub is strong enough in the clinch to shuck his opponent off on more than one occasion.

The alternative -- and more likely -- scenario has Rothwell tiring quickly against the quicker Schaub as he peppers him with solid one-two combinations. “The Hybrid” has improved his wrestling and is decent in the clinch, but as his record shows, the quick knockout is his forte. Should Rothwell get sloppy, Schaub can make him pay with a well-placed counter.

The Pick: Schaub’s fast-twitch muscle fibers are too much for the methodical Rothwell as the Coloradoan gets back on track with a first-round knockout.

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