With his back against the wall, Philipe Lins is looking to take a more reserved approach against Ben Rothwell.
In search of his first octagon win, Lins (14-5 MMA, 0-2 UFC) faces Rothwell on May 8 at UFC on ESPN 24, looking to snap a two-fight losing skid.
Lins came into the UFC with a lot of momentum. He went 4-0 during his PFL tenure and captured the 2018 heavyweight title but has fallen short to Andrei Arlovski and Tanner Boser in his first two octagon appearances.
He faces Rothwell (38-13 MMA, 8-7 UFC), who has gone the distance only once in his past seven wins, so Lins knows he’s in for a dangerous matchup.
“He’s tough and experienced,” Lins told MMA Junkie in Portuguese. “He’s been on this road for a long time. It’s an honor to face someone like him. He’s dangerous. He hits hard, has a good chin, and doesn’t run from a fight. I have to be intelligent when facing him. I need to combine all my skills so I can impose my own game. I can’t fall into his and get into a brawl.
“I’m looking to use my speed and footwork to outscore him. And, of course, if I see a path to a finish, I’m taking it. Ultimately, I have to fight smart. The longer the fight goes, the better for me. He’s a big guy, so he uses up a lot of energy. I’m ready. I’ve had an excellent training camp. I was ready on March 13, but our bout got rescheduled for May 8. I kept training and making small adjustments. I’m very ready for this combat.”
Despite his current losing skid, Lins remains undeterred. He sees a win over a veteran like Rothwell as pivotal in his career as he aims for the UFC’s top 15 heavyweight rankings.
“I’m completely focused on this next fight,” Lins said. “Being victorious in the UFC is very important to me, since I’m coming off two losses. Being able to beat someone like Ben Rothwell is highly important. If I manage to get ranked with a win, that’s great, but if I’m not yet ranked, I don’t mind putting in the work. Of course, my mind is always on reaching the top five eventually, so I can have a title shot one day. I have a lot of faith in my own work, and in the people I’m surrounded by. I’m willing to take it one step at a time. I’ll get there.”
Philipe Lins wary of Ben Rothwell at UFC on ESPN 24: I can’t ‘get into a brawl’ with him
