Ben Rothwell evened his record to 2-2 since returning from a nearly three-year layoff when he topped Ovince Saint Preux on Wednesday at UFC on ESPN+ 29.
Rothwell (38-12 MMA, 8-6 UFC) put another notable name on his veteran resume when he scored a split decision victory over Saint Preux (24-14 MMA, 12-9 UFC) in the heavyweight co-headliner, which took place at VyStar Veterans Memorial Arena in Jacksonville, Fla.
Check below for the top Twitter reactions to Rothwell’s victory over Saint Preux at UFC on ESPN+ 29.
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We've arrived at the #UFCJAX co-headliner where Ben Rothwell (@RothwellFighter) welcomes Ovince Saint Preux (@003_OSP) to the heavyweight division.
Play-by-play: https://t.co/2jilTFPgGj pic.twitter.com/uWIskBu9tG
— MMA Junkie (@MMAjunkie) May 14, 2020
#UFCFightNight Closing Betting Odds:
Ben Rothwell +135
Ovince St Preux -155@SuperBookUSA 💵 Live Now -> @ESPN+ @Jon_Anik @dc_mma @felderpaul @MMAOddsBreaker https://t.co/tof2w6pOoz— Nick Kalikas (@FightOdds) May 14, 2020
Being unable to jab against someone who can cut off the cage is a HUGE issue. #UFCJAX
— Seán Sheehan (@SeanSheehanBA) May 14, 2020
Announcers sleeping on the IFL
— Nick Newell (@NotoriousNewell) May 14, 2020
Rothwell able to walk Saint Preux into the fence several times so far. OSP throwing almost no strikes. #UFCJAX
— Sherdog by Mandatory (@sherdogdotcom) May 14, 2020
OSP with an interesting game plan… #UFCJAX
— Mike Jackson, Esq. (@TheTruthJackson) May 14, 2020
Ben loves to get his belly in play for this front choke, but OSP smartly fighting grips…
— Dan Tom (@DanTomMMA) May 14, 2020
Control the hands!!!! #UFCJAX
— Tatiana Suarez (@tatianaufc) May 14, 2020
OSP pic.twitter.com/Eke4tmIXoQ
— Gerald Harris (@GHurricane) May 14, 2020
holy fuck I can hear the notifications going off in the arena
— Mackleless inventor (@high_light) May 14, 2020
Ive been watching him forever, but I don’t think I’ve ever seen OSP throw a combination in my life. #UFCJacksonville
— Jason (@JasonAmadi) May 14, 2020
Rothwell -275 live wagering entering round 2 #UFCJAX
— Fight Ghost (@Fight_Ghost) May 14, 2020
OSP does honestly look a bit shook by Rothwell's size. He's not way smaller, but its his first trip up to fighting in beef country. #UFCJAX
— Bloody Elbow (@BloodyElbow) May 14, 2020
That wasn’t quiet anik I heard that all the way from here
— Belal Muhammad (@bullyb170) May 14, 2020
I absolutely love that Ben Rothwell is fighting like this in 2020. #UFCJax
— MiddleEasy (@MiddleEasy) May 14, 2020
I have a feeling I may have overlooked a round three spot in this fight… interesting to see what things look like if we make it there.
— Dan Tom (@DanTomMMA) May 14, 2020
Heavy weight meat slapping #UFCJAX
— ike vallie-flagg (@IKEVF) May 14, 2020
Osp keeps circling into Ben's right hand
— James Vick (@JamesVickMMA) May 14, 2020
It rules that Ovince St. Preux is such a fantastic athlete and has so much experience and has still never learned how to box worth a damn and just throws goofy kicks, is synonymous with a ridiculous low percentage submission and has never evolved anything, but still has success.
— Jordan Breen (@jordanbreen) May 14, 2020
Rothwell has a very old school style 😳 but it works for him #UFCJAX
— Cub Swanson (@CubSwanson) May 14, 2020
OSP just throws hands and he almost KOs Rothwell. That's his best way forward. #UFCJAX
— Seán Sheehan (@SeanSheehanBA) May 14, 2020
OSP hit Shogun with a similar shot, of memory serves. #UFCJAX
— Dan Tom (@DanTomMMA) May 14, 2020
Big knockdown by OSP. Both guys are visibly tired with their shots a lot more laboured. Power is still there apparently though. #UFCJax
— Farah Hannoun (@Farah_Hannoun) May 14, 2020
YO!!! OSP changing the defense game up! #UFCJAX
— Mike Jackson, Esq. (@TheTruthJackson) May 14, 2020
Rothwell is trying to big daddy Ovince and man he is doing a damn good job at it. #UFCJAX
— Tatiana Suarez (@tatianaufc) May 14, 2020
The way OSP "retreats…" #UFCJAX pic.twitter.com/FTkeJsROpI
— Mookie Alexander (@mookiealexander) May 14, 2020
That was everything I hoped for
— caposa (@Grabaka_Hitman) May 14, 2020
Damn them heavyweights were hitting #UFCJAX
— Derek Brunson (@DerekBrunson) May 14, 2020
Ovince finally decided to fight the last 10 seconds
— Belal Muhammad (@bullyb170) May 14, 2020
Bem Rothwell is a beast I love watching his fights always so entertaining
— Junior Dos Santos 🅾️➕ (@junior_cigano) May 14, 2020
#UFCJAX results: Ben Rothwell (@RothwellFighter) def. Ovince Saint via split decision (28-29, 29-28, 29-28) https://t.co/2jilTFPgGj pic.twitter.com/Z6cE10JgRo
— MMA Junkie (@MMAjunkie) May 14, 2020
Do the laugh
— Al Iaquinta🗽 (@ALIAQUINTA) May 14, 2020
I wish he would have done the evil laugh in the empty arena 😕 #UFCJAX
— Michael Chiesa (@MikeMav22) May 14, 2020
Rothwell calls out Aleksei Oleinik, who beat former UFC champ Fabricio Werdum at UFC 249 on Saturday.
— Nick Baldwin (@NickBaldwinMMA) May 14, 2020
OSP did great on is heavyweight debut against a big body like Big Ben.#UFCJAX
— Francis Ngannou (@francis_ngannou) May 14, 2020
