Rothwell steps up into the spotlight

He’s not exactly easing his way into life on the big stage.

Rothwell will take on fellow heavyweight Cain Velazquez in the co-main event of UFC 104 in Los Angeles on Oct. 24.

He had been scheduled to take on Chase Gormley on the ill-fated Affliction card in August, but signed with the UFC and agreed to step in when Velazquez needed a suitable opponent.

It represents a step up in competition for Rothwell.

“I feel great about the fight because I was going to fight a guy that nobody had heard of. That doesn’t mean the guy is not tough. It just means that’s a fight that you’ve got everything to lose and really not much to gain,” Rothwell said on a conference call. “Everybody knows who (Cain) is. I want to be fighting with the guys that are the names in the UFC.

“I want to be a name in the UFC as well and that’s the only way. You’ve got to be in there fighting the guys that people know.”

Rothwell, who has compiled a 30-6 record, says being in the UFC spotlight doesn’t add any pressure.

“A (small) show that doesn’t mean much, you go in there overconfident and the guy catches you with the right hand and (knocks you out), you just ruined your career,” he said. “So you should have just as much pressure for that small nothing fight as you do for the biggest fight. It’s only as big as you make it in your head.”

Rothwell is stepping in for Shane Carwin, who will now fight Brock Lesnar for the heavyweight title in November. Velazquez was slated to fight Carwin on this card for the right to meet Lesnar.

“It was discouraging at first, but you know I really can’t dwell on it because they gave me Ben Rothwell after that. I’ve got to focus on my task at hand,” Velazquez said, adding that he will get his chance soon. “I can’t dwell on it. I do feel like I will be in that position so it’s still no problem.”

The card, featuring Lyoto Machida defending his light heavyweight belt against “Shogun” Rua will air on pay per view from Staples Center. Spike TV announced Monday that two undercard bouts will be broadcast commercial free live on the network.

* WEC 43 — Donald Cerrone will have to wait even longer for another shot at World Extreme Cagefighting lightweight champion Jamie Varner.

Cerrone dropped a unanimous decision to Ben Henderson in an interim title bout on Saturday night in San Antonio.

Henderson will take on Varner in a unification bout, though the details of that matchup have not been set.

Cerrone lost a controversial fight to Varner in January and the champion has been out of action since with a hand injury.

Damacio Page submitted Will Campuzano on the card, while Dave Jansen and Rafael Assuncao each won by decision. Las Vegan Anthony Njokuani knocked out Muhsin Corbbrey.

* GRIFFIN REPLACES COLEMAN — Mark Coleman was forced to withdraw last week from his upcoming UFC 106 bout with Tito Ortiz on Nov. 21 due to an injury.

Ortiz will instead make his return to the UFC against former champion Forrest Griffin on the card at Mandalay Bay.

Contact reporter Adam Hill at ahill@reviewjournal.com or 702-224-5509.