As far as Ben Rothwell is concerned, it doesn't matter how much Krzysztof Soszynski has improved since their last meeting.

Rothwell has heard Soszynski talk in interviews about how much better his mental game is, how he's a different fighter altogether, but the Silverbacks heavyweight isn't impressed.

"I don't think about it too much," Rothwell said. "Krzysztof made a big deal of it on the Internet about how he's mentally changed and he's so different. That's fine. I'm not out there to worry about what he's going to do. I'm out there to make him worry about what I'm going to do."

Judging from the way Rothwell has torn through the ranks, there are probably a lot of heavyweights in the IFL who are worried about what he can do. The first time he took on Soszynski was back in April 2006, and like most of Rothwell's IFL matches, it ended in a first-round TKO.

Since then, Soszynski has strung together some impressive performances and been heralded by Anacondas coach Shawn Tompkins as the league's most improved fighter. Now, with Rothwell set to rematch Soszynski in the International Fight League: 2007 Semi Finals of the IFL playoffs in New Jersey on Aug. 2, we might get to see just how far he's come.

For his part, Rothwell says he sincerely hopes Soszynski really has improved.

"It may seem like I'm crossing the line toward being disrespectful, but I'm not worried about it," Rothwell said. "I give him all the credit in the world. He's changed, he's a better fighter, and I say good. I don't want to fight the same guy again. I want a challenge, and I believe he's going to give it to me.

"I need someone to bring out my best, and I hope he does. I want to show what I can really do. For him, that might not be a good thing because it only makes me train harder."

It has emerged as one of Rothwell's defining characteristics, this constant perfectionism. It's almost as if he sees his fights less as physical contests and more as performances. All he asks of his opponent is that he bring out the best in him.

Part of it, Rothwell says, is driven by his desire to get the respect he deserves from fans and MMA opinion-makers. Not so long ago he expressed a concern that simply beating the same fighters he'd already defeated wouldn't do it for him. But now, Rothwell says, what he needs are strong opponents and exciting bouts.

"You can fight the toughest guy out there, but if it's not fun to watch, people won't care," he said. "If I train hard and so does he and we go out and have a great fight that's exciting to watch, and I end it in dramatic fashion, I'll get the credit I deserve. I'm not worried about it."

For Rothwell's team, the match with the Anacondas is perhaps the biggest of their IFL lives. After winning the World Team Championship in 2006, they were defeated in their very next match by the Anacondas, who said after the match that they considered themselves champions after the win.

At the time the Silverbacks were missing top welterweight Rory Markham (eye injury), and they're still upset about the incredibly close decision finish that gave lightweight Chris Horodecki the clinching win over Bart Palaszewski. This time it will be the Anacondas who are missing injured two starters – Horodecki and welterweight Jay Hieron.

And this time, as Rothwell was quick to point out, the championship really is at stake.

"It's a little bit of a rubber match. They made it clear last time that it was like their championship match and they got a win over us, a very close win. But we're out to make it right."

Rothwell is planning to do his part against Soszynski by pushing himself harder than ever in the notoriously grueling Pat Miletich training sessions.

"I'm doing more things, a lot of cross-training, but I'm doing so much more and I feel so good. Earlier I was hitting pads, doing longer and longer rounds, and when Pat said the time was up, I said no, I needed to do some more. Most of the time when he says I'm done, I'm just glad it's over. This time I'm really pushing myself."

That could be bad news for Soszynski, who risks finding himself once more on the wrong end of one of Rothwell's dramatic finishes.

Source: www.sportsline.com