Bare-knuckle heavyweights “Big” Ben Rothwell and Todd Duffee will finally lock horns at BKFC 56, which will take place at the Maverik Center in Salt Lake City, Utah on Saturday, December 2nd. With over 70 combined mixed martial arts fights – including almost 25 in the UFC – the two hard-hitting big men both enjoyed long MMA careers before transitioning to BKFC. “(A fight with Duffee) was never offered to me, but the prospect was always kind of there. We basically came up at the same time, so it was always on the table, but it hasn’t materialized until now,” says Rothwell.  “He’s like me – he’s had some ups and downs in his career,” Rothwell adds. “I think he’s had to deal with some stuff outside of the cage, but I know he’s training really hard for this fight, and that excites me.”

 

Rothwell is 2-0 with a pair of stoppage victories under the BKFC banner, while Duffee is dropping his gloves and stepping into the squared circle for the first time. The Kenosha, Wisconsin product believes his experience will help pave the way for a third straight victory. “I know what to do and how to impose my will under this rule set. If this fight somehow goes beyond the first round, I’m going to make him feel things that he hasn’t felt before,” he says. “Experience can be an important factor in BKFC. There’s a lot that I enjoy about bare knuckle, but it also has its dangers that distinguishes it from the rest of the fight game.”

 

Rothwell says the most likely outcome for BKFC 56 is simple. “I finished both of my first two fights, and I’m fully expecting a third.”