UFC.com: Tim Boetsch set to face David Heath at UFC 81
January 22, 2008 by Sam Caplan
Remember that MMAWeekly.com report earlier that stated Anthony Ruiz has signed on to face David Heath at UFC 81 on Feb. 2 as the replacement for Tomasz Drwal?
Well, UFC.com is reporting something completely different. Apparently Tim Boetsch, and not Ruiz, will be taking on Heath:
February 2nd’s UFC 81 card in Las Vegas is back up to a full slate of nine fights after Pennsylvania light heavyweight prospect Tim Boetsch agreed to step into the Octagon to face David Heath. Boetsch (6-1 in pro MMA) replaces Tomasz Drwal, who was forced to withdraw from the Heath bout due to injury.
No disrespect to MMAWeekly.com, but I will take the UFC’s word for this one.
I think Ruiz would have been a good replacement but I like Boetsch just as much in this spot. I saw him fight twice this past summer; first at Extreme Challenge 81 in Orange, NJ on July 28 and less again less than a week later at the IFL semifinals on August 2 in East Rutherford, NJ.
Boetsch submitted Brendan Barrett with a guillotine choke at 3:00 of round 2. He then lost a unanimous decision to Vladimir Matyushenko during the IFL show but hung tough the entire time. He’s a very good wrestler and I think he stands a good chance of pulling off an upset against Heath.
Sam, I thought I remembered you saying some positive things about Boetsch when you saw him fight. Either one would have been a fine replacement to fight Heath, although coming off a split decision against Brad Imes, I wondered how much Ruiz would have in the tank for Heath. Boetsch should be at least a game opponent for Heath.
Any thoughts on Tim’s ground game(bjj and ground and pound wise) agianst Heath? Is this likely where he’s going to want the fight to go?
I don’t think Boetsch will want to stand. If he gets it to the ground, he has a good chance of pulling the upset.
Is beating David Heath ever really an upset?
No dissrespect to the guy but… who has he ever really beaten
AGREE w/ cupitt.
on my fantasy card, i’m actually predicting a win for boetsch. . sub. . in round 2. . . i think. . maybe round 1. . . i don’t remember.