Ben Rothwell: Miletich Camp Not What It Used To Be

In a recent interview on the Sherdog Radio Network's Savage Dog Show, Ben Rothwell talked about his fight this Saturday at UFC 115 against Gilbert Yvel, and his departure from Pat Miletich's gym.

Yvel has a long reputation of fighting dirty and breaking the rules, but he has stayed in line since 2004.

“He seems to have really cleaned up his act since coming to the States,” Rothwell admitted. “Overseas, I think he was a little bit different. If he was in Japan, they kind of get off on that kind of thing.

"If he’s in Holland, it’s kind of like it was a big free for all. He came to the States, and there’s a commission. This is a sport, they don’t put up with that.”

Rothwell touched base on his former training camp in Davenport, Iowa. He explained that the camp has lost a lot of its faces and is past its glory days.

“At one time, yeah, it was looked at as one of the greatest gyms of all time. It had Hughes, and Jens was knocking people out. Tim had the belt. Jeremy Horn was there. And then we were kind of like the second phase with the whole IFL.

"That was kind of the beginning of the end, I think. We had our little spurt, but it wasn’t UFC level and then it just kind of diminished. Things happen. I don’t think there’s blame (on) anybody. It just happened that way.”

Rothwell stated that he would have left the gym anyway because he wasn't spending enough time with his daughter between driving from Wisconsin to Iowa.

Ben also told that he is embracing the tutelage of Matt Hume for the fight with Yvel.

“When you talk to him, he is like a wizard,” Rothwell said.

“I don’t know how to explain it. He is a very smart guy. He’s all about martial arts, and I really liked him a lot.”

Hume will be in Rothwell's corner this weekend.