Back in June of this year UFC heavyweights Ben Rothwell and Matt Mitrione met in the octagon. Things seemed to be going OK for ‘Meathead’ until he went for an ill advised takedown and got caught in a choke. Rothwell forced him to tap out and won the fight, before giving quite the memorable post fight speech.
Rothwell was set to fight top ranked Stipe Miocic at next Saturday’s UFC Fight Night: Dublin, but a last minute injury to Miocic forced the fight to be canceled.
The UFC were trying to find a last second replacement, but apparently couldn’t get anything locked down.
However, Mitrione was campaigning for the fight and after it was announced that the fight was all together canceled he took to Twitter to call out Rothwell for apparently not accepting the rematch.
Check it out!
Soooo, @RothwellFighter you'd rather not get paid at all & pull out of a fight in Ireland of all places than rematch me on 11 day notice?
— Matt Mitrione (@mattmitrione) October 14, 2015
I got the call. @RothwellFighter turned it down. You should contact Twitter to see if just @Rothwell is available https://t.co/ld3b3SXk3h
— Matt Mitrione (@mattmitrione) October 14, 2015
' @mattmitrione lost all respect4u now, spewing such bullshit lies-make no mistake I'll crush ur lying mouth4free NO @ufc contract needed
— Big Ben Rothwell (@RothwellFighter) October 14, 2015
I made a mistake BUT u capitalized on it. Good 4u but u know I answered when Joe called. All u had to do was say yes https://t.co/cfwdOCem6Q
— Matt Mitrione (@mattmitrione) October 14, 2015
That's cute, Ben because you already turned it down on Twitter & asked for Travis instead. Fight for free??? stupid https://t.co/cfwdOCem6Q
— Matt Mitrione (@mattmitrione) October 14, 2015
Keep lying and this can happen again @mattmitrione @ufc pic.twitter.com/OqORLsXMj1
— Big Ben Rothwell (@RothwellFighter) October 14, 2015
It can't, you see, because you'd have to fight me again and we all see where that went just now. See ya around, Ben! https://t.co/Q6UQkupLi6
— Matt Mitrione (@mattmitrione) October 14, 2015
Now let’s be real. It doesn’t make a lot of sense on Rothwell’s part to take that fight. It’s on short notice, against a guy you just beat. What is there to gain for him? Of course Rothwell wants to get that rematch and try to avenge his loss, but realistically he should probably just focus on getting a few more wins first against other fighters, than look for a rematch.
What do you guys think, would you have liked to have seen these two fight again? And what do you guys think of Mitrione’s constant Twitter warfare, it seems like he’s getting into it with everyone these day?
Plus, on top of all that, Mitrione already has a fight booked against Travis Browne, set for January 17, 2016 at UFC Fight Night 81. Maybe just worry about that fight for now. Anyway, UFC Fight Night Dublin will proceed, just without it’s big heavyweight co-main event.
Give us your thoughts, sounds off in the comments!