PHILADELPHIA – Andrei Arlovski, at 47 years old, added another remarkable chapter to his combat sports career on Saturday night, defeating Ben Rothwell via third-round TKO to claim the BKFC heavyweight title at the Xfinity Mobile Arena. The victory marked the third time Arlovski has defeated Rothwell, having previously secured wins in Affliction 1 in 2008 and at UFC on ESPN 4 in 2019.
From the opening bell, Arlovski demonstrated a clear advantage, consistently beating Rothwell to the punch and landing the more impactful shots. By the second round, Rothwell was visibly absorbing significant damage, his face already bearing the marks of Arlovski’s relentless attack. The tide turned definitively in the third when a cut above Rothwell’s forehead, and more concerningly, bruising and blood pooling around his eye, prompted the ringside physician to halt the contest.
“He was never going to be allowed to continue,” an observer noted, highlighting the severity of Rothwell’s condition. Arlovski’s triumph comes in just his second BKFC appearance, a swift ascent to the top of the promotion’s heavyweight division.
Hunt Dominates Mundell in Co-Main Event
The undercard also delivered a significant upset, as Lorenzo Hunt delivered a fourth-round knockout victory over David Mundell in a non-title, champ-vs-champ matchup. Hunt’s performance was described as dominant, potentially reshaping the landscape of BKFC’s heavyweight contendership.
The result throws a potential wrench into plans for a fight between Mundell and Mike Perry. Mundell had been actively campaigning for a bout with Perry, but Hunt’s decisive win may have positioned himself as the more compelling opponent. The possibility of a Hunt vs. Perry showdown, billed as a clash for pound-for-pound supremacy and the “King of Violence” moniker, is now gaining momentum.
Full Results from KnuckleMania 6
Main Card
- Heavyweight Championship: Andrei Arlovski def. Ben Rothwell via TKO (doctor’s stoppage) – Round 3, 1:14
- Cruiserweight: Lorenzo Hunt def. David Mundell via KO – Round 4, 0:29
- Middleweight: Johnny Garbarino def. Kaine Tomlinson Jr. Via TKO – Round 5, 0:49
- Lightweight: Ben Bonner def. Tony Soto via UD (49-46 x2, 48-47)
- Heavyweight: Patrick Brady def. Bear Hill via UD (50-42, 50-41, 49-43)
- Women’s Bantamweight: Jade Masson-Wong def. Crystal Pittman via UD (50-45 x3)
- Middleweight: Mike Richman def. Joe Elmore via MD (47-47, 48-46, 49-45)
- Featherweight: Charles Bennett def. Pat Sullivan via TKO – Round 2, 1:56
- Middleweight: Cody Russell def. Harrison Aiken via TKO — Round 2, 1:16
- Lightweight: Zedekiah Montanez def. Brandon Meyer via KO — Round 2, 1:59
- Bantamweight: Phil Caracappa def. Noah Norman via fourth-round DQ (late punches) (:40)
Prelims
- Cruiserweight: Lex Ludlow def. Zach Calmus via UD (30-26 x3)
- Middleweight: Prince Nyseam def. Brett Shoenfelt via UD (30-25 x3)
- Bantamweight: Joshua Oxendine def. Travis Thompson via UD (30-27 x3)
The co-main event between Hunt and Mundell proved to be a thrilling contest. Hunt established control early, and a late knockdown in the second round further solidified his advantage. The fight concluded in the fourth round with a devastating one-punch knockout from Hunt, leaving Mundell unable to continue.
The victory for Arlovski and Hunt signals a potential shift in the power dynamics within BKFC, setting the stage for compelling matchups and further competition in the months to come. The promotion’s next moves will be closely watched as it navigates the fallout from KnuckleMania 6 and builds towards future events.
