Ben Rothwell

Ben Rothwell is one of MMA's great heavyweight survivors. "Big Ben" has fought for well over two decades, spanning the old IFL and Affliction days through a long UFC tenure, and he did it with a wild beard, heavy hands and a surprisingly sharp submission game for a man his size.

He never won a title, but his mid-2010s winning streak was legitimately impressive, with wins over names like Josh Barnett during a stretch that briefly put him in the title conversation. Even into the later years he kept beating quality opponents, like the giant Stefan Struve.

The younger generation eventually began to catch up, but Rothwell's appeal never depended on rankings. He's a throwback heavyweight brawler with grit, longevity and a finisher's instinct, exactly the kind of fighter old-school fans love.