#TFGinterview: I am competing for the Number one Spot --In Conversation with Ben Rothwell

Ben Rothwell is, according to fans and purists, on the cusp of a title shot and this weekend, he is set to face former champion Junior Dos Santos in what essentially is a fight to determine who the next in line is, for a shot at the UFC Heavyweight crown.

'Big Ben', a veteran of the sport with 45 fights to his name, has been among the very elite in the UFC's Heavyweight division for a long time. But riding on a 4-fight win streak, the Kenosha, Wisconsin native is within inches of realising his lifelong dream of becoming a UFC champion.

Prior to his big fight against Dos Santos, Rothwell took some time out to chat with The Fan Garage on few things relating to his MMA career, contender status and other things. Below are the excerpts.

Q) So Ben, you will be fighting a former champion Junior Dos Santos (JDS), well he has lost three of his last five fights. Do you think you a win over him will confirm a title shot over the winner of Werdum-Miocic?

BEN) Because it is a top 10 opponent I am once again facing like I have been doing and it's not just me, the analysts, the MMA fans and everyone. It's kind of agreed that I am competing for the No. 1 spot right now.

Q) You recently took out one of the division's best striker in Alistair Overeem, submitted one of the best grapplers in Josh Barnett. How do you think this fight will go, which one of those aspects is your strong suit?

B) What makes me strong is that, I don't look for anything. I end up beating my opponent and where that finish is going to be, you will have to find out in the fight on Sunday.

Q) What do you think has been the key to the recent winning streak?

B) Win streak has a lot to do with meeting with Louis Caludio in 2011 and just putting the right team around me.

Q) How did you feel when the fight against JDS was first announced and what has been the reception towards it from your fans in Europe and Croatia? Any difference in the camp in preparation for this fight as opposed to fighting in the US?

B) No difference in the camp really. I got the phone call for this fight, four days after beating Barnett, so I was actually ready for this fight against Dos Santos. I just had to maintain the training camp for the next eight weeks until this point. I did come out a little early to acclimate, which is something that comes with it.

The Croatian fans have been amazing, the European fans in general have been amazing. I got love from everyone as always. I'm just  getting support from different places like Canada and even South America. So it's more like a world wide support that I am receiving. It's a very good time right now.

Q) You are facing a top five opponent right now in Santos, would it be fair to say that this would be your biggest MMA fight so far?

B) It's a major fight, but to me personally, Josh Barnett, winning against him, even when I win and defend the title, I still consider that as one of the biggest wins in my career.

Q) What are the challenges you face in the preparations for a big fight like this?

B) The main challenge in this fight is, I had to leave behind the United States, longer air-fare, longer plane-rides. Just some of those minor things which aren't really a big deal.

I've always been ready, since 2015 I've been in camps constantly training. So I was ready for really anything.

Q) Long time ago you talked about not being interested in expanding your knowledge in Jiu-jitsu. With the work you have put in with Louis Claudio, do you see your recent resurgence as something that was bound to happen?

B) Yes. I was almost thinking about retirement. Just wasn't enjoying this anymore, I wasn't enjoying MMA just because I was being pulled around on a leash with the training camps and all.

Meeting Louis, he reignited the fighter of mixed martial arts in me and that helped expand my striking and my overall game plan. Basically that is what you have been seeing in last four-five fights. It is a beautiful thing now.

Q) How rewarding is teaching MMA, not just fighting but also teaching it to students?

B) My gym has been the major factor in my win streak and I think it is also because getting to teach students not only helps my game but it is rewarding to watch this sport change people's lives.

This sport has saved my life and I owe my life to it. There's no amount of money that can replace that feeling.

Q) Lastly, do you have any message for your fans in Asia who will be tuning into to watch your fight? Have you ever been to Asia and what are your thoughts about fighting in Asia in the future?

B) I am on kind of a quest to meet fans around the world and Asia is a major part of the planet so I would love to make some fans there and I think Asia has played a huge part in the history of martial arts and I have a lot of respect there and I owe a lot to them to what I have.

They have inspired me , basically throughout my whole life. Whether it is through movies, through history and I am not just excited to visit but to fight there and as I said will love to continue to make more fans.

UFC Fight Night 86, Zagreb, Croatia

BEN ROTHWELL vs JUNIOR DOS SANTOS

10th APRIL, 2016 @ 11.30pm (IST)

Live & Exclusively on SONY ESPN