© Marc Wickert
www.knucklepit.com

10 Oct. '06

"I'm just kicking back in my room – getting ready for bed. I got done training about an hour ago," says the 6'4", 265-pound human mako, affectionately known as 'War' Rothwell.

Ben resides in Bettendorf, Iowa, in an apartment above the Team Miletich gym with fellow Silverback members Rory Markham and Ryan McGivern.

Rothwell's introduction to MMA is something that just seemed to come naturally: "It just kinda happened. I was 17 when I started training: I didn't go into it thinking I was going to fight; I just did it thinking I was going to learn martial arts. The guy I went to, he actually started with Pat Miletich, and opened a school in my hometown, Kenosha, Wisconsin. I just happened to go there one day and began training.

"He thought I was really good and a month and a half after I started training, he sent me to a tournament in Cleveland, and I won. It was for an Extreme Challenge under Monte Cox. Back then, I used to fight Monte's guys, but now he's become my manager – that's how I met him, I guess."

When Ben commenced training at Team Miletich, there wasn't too much time spent on orientation: He dived in the deep end and that's where he chose to stay. "I'm Tim Sylvia's main sparring partner. I've been here for two and a half years, and Tim and I have been banging away every Monday and Wednesday since I got here."

From the moment Rothwell arrived in Bettendorf, he has enjoyed the camaraderie that Pat Miletich is known and respected for creating amongst his 'family' of athletes. At the IFL: Legends Championship 2006, Pat was in attendance as the Silverbacks' team coach, and Tim was also there supporting the side.

Ben says it's a buzz for team members to have that sort of encouragement. "Well, we're all supportive. Like I'm going to be out there on November 18 cornering Brad Imes, and I'll be there with Tim Sylvia too. So even though I'm with the IFL, our team (Team Miletich) comes first, and I'll be supporting them just like Tim and Brad, Robbie Lawler… They come to our shows like a big support group. Even though our guys fight in different places, we're one big team. We all support each other in any way we can."

Ben, how is Mike Ciesnolevicz going?

"He's doing well. He's keeping his head up. Unfortunately he had a rough fight last time, but he's keeping his head up and getting ready for the next one."

How do you think he'll fare against Brent Beauparlant?

"If Mike comes out with his head on, I see him winning that fight – on the feet or on the ground, I think he might have a little too much for his opponent."

Do the fans appear to like the team aspect of MMA competition?

"Yeah, they do – especially after the last show when it was 2-2, and my fight came up. A lot of the fans… I heard afterwards on the internet, they really got into the team aspect. My fight had a lot more worth to it because it meant more than just my fight: it was for the team. And people really got into the team aspect then."

Read the full article on Knucklepit.com.