UFC stars Anthony 'Rumble' Johnson, Ryan Bader and Ben Rothwell show big men are taking over

Anthony Johnson (left) is a year on from his spectacular KO of Alex Gustafsson

Sky Sports have heard from some of the biggest and baddest giants that the UFC has to offer as they chase elusive world titles.

We spoke to Anthony 'Rumble' Johnson and Ryan Bader, the light-heavyweight pair who fight this weekend and know that an explosive performance could lead to a crack at the championship. Not to mention Ben Rothwell, one of the heaviest heavyweights, who plans to take over a chaotic division.

Here's what they had to say...

Anthony 'Rumble' Johnson (20-5)

He was beaten to the vacant 205lbs title by Daniel Cormier but the monstrous KO artist thinks that one more fallen victim could result in a second chance.

Johnson defeated England's Jimi Manuwa last time out

Johnson said: I hit the hardest in the UFC. I think I hit harder than the heavyweights - and those guys can hit pretty hard. One day I'll step up to heavyweight and see if I can knock out some of those guys. I don't do anything special to be able to hit hard, it's genetics.

I like to hit you where it counts, I like to hit you where it hurts. It's not always about how hard you hit, it's about whereabouts you hit them. If Ryan leaves himself open or makes a mistake his lights will be out.

I know I have the ability to wrestle with Ryan, that's what he'll try and do with me. Everybody thinks the blueprint to beat me is wrestling. Try it.

A title shot has been the talk for Bader if he wins but it hasn't for me, nobody has mentioned it to me, but we'll see. It's hard enough trying to focus on one opponent rather than two.

Ryan Bader (20-4)

A five-fight winning streak means Bader has a chip on his shoulder that he hasn't already received a chance at the belt - he plans to make Johnson pay.

Ryan Bader has strung together five wins but a title shot eludes him

Bader said: They said I'd maybe get a title shot after this one but I was told that last time. If you look back, I was supposed to fight Daniel Cormier but Jones got suspended so Cormier fought Johnson for the title. That was in June, that got scratched, then Alex Gustafsson got the next title shot after he was knocked out in his previous fight. That was hard to swallow.

If you look across the board at the people who have had title shots, it's crazy. Johnson is No 2 in the rankings so I have no clue [what more I'll have to do].

The blueprint is out there for how to beat Anthony. You've got to get him out of his comfort zone and put the pace on him, make him fight your way. If he's comfortable he can go hard for the first round or two but I plan on making him uncomfortable and taking him down. I won't let him get set up to throw his bombs, you can't stand in front of him.

Ben Rothwell (35-9)

After learning of the cancelled heavyweight title fight between Fabricio Werdum and Cain Velasquez, Rothwell waited by the phone for a call that never came. Stipe Miocic, who withdrew from fighting Rothwell, got the nod. Now Rothwell will fight Josh Barnett but can't make sense of it all!

Ben Rothwell has won three in a row but the heavyweight division is in turmoil

Rothwell said: It's surreal to see everything happen the way it has but nothing surprises me. I was disappointed by Miocic's team attacking Werdum for pulling out of a fight with an injury - Miocic did the exact same thing against me three months ago. I was disappointed they opened their mouths, that bothers me.

It's bizarre. If they asked me? I'll fight them all. I'll fight this weekend, then next weekend.