NEWARK, N.J. ? Keep doubting Ben Rothwell , and he will keep surprising you. And maybe one day, you’ll be forced to give him a title shot.

Rothwell (36-9 MMA, 6-3 UFC) became the first fighter to legitimately submit former UFC heavyweight champion Josh Barnett (34-8 MMA, 6-3 UFC), tapping him with the same choke he used to make his previous opponent quit.

The heavyweight bout co-headlined today’s UFC on FOX 18 main card at Prudential Center in Newark, N.J. It aired on FOX following prelims on FOX Sports 1 and UFC Fight Pass.

After getting outstruck in the first round, a bloody Rothwell made Barnett quit at 3:48 of round two with a modified guillotine he calls the “gogo choke.”

Rothwell might have cut another colorful piece of promotion material in his post-fight speech, as he did after Mitrione. But instead, he kept it respectful, saying he was sending a message to other heavyweights who’ve gotten opportunities before him ? namely Stipe Miocic, who was promoted to an ill-fated title fight at UFC 196.

Barnett hoped to end Rothwell’s improbable late-career surge, and early on did so using the sound techniques of a seasoned veteran. He drew Rothwell into a straight right hand and followed up with power punches that drew blood. Rothwell was more aggressive than accurate early on.

But in the second round, Rothwell seemed to calm down and began picking his shots. He also forced a reaction from Barnett, who pushed him to the cage and came in on a single-leg takedown in hopes of starting a ground fight. Instead, Rothwell trapped his neck and quickly cranked it, giving him no choice but to submit.

Barnett, who’d tapped twice earlier in his career due to injuries (one which prompted him to tap to strikes), goes back to the loss column after a decision over Roy Nelson. Rothwell now has won four straight and put another notable name on his resume.

Up-to-the-minute UFC on FOX 18 results include:

• Ben Rothwell def. Josh Barnett via submission (guillotine choke) ? Round 2, 3:48
• Jimmie Rivera def. Iuri Alcantara via unanimous decision (29-28, 29-28, 29-28)
• Bryan Barberena def. Sage Northcutt via submission (arm-triangle choke) ? Round 2, 3:06
• Tarec Saffiedine def. Jake Ellenberger via unanimous decision (29-28, 29-28, 29-28)
• Diego Ferreira def. Olivier Aubin-Mercier via unanimous decision (29-28, 29-28, 30-27)
• Rafael Natal def. Kevin Casey via TKO (punches) ? Round 3, 3:37
• Wilson Reis def. Dustin Ortiz via unanimous decision (30-27, 30-27, 30-27)
• Alexander Yakovlev def. George Sullivan via knockout (punches) ? Round 1, 3:59
• Alex Caceres def. Masio Fullen via unanimous decision (30-27, 30-27, 30-27)
• Randy Brown def. Matt Dwyer via unanimous decision (29-28, 29-28, 29-28)
• Damon Jackson vs. Levan Makashvili majority draw (29-27, 28-28, 28-28)
• Tony Martin def. Filipe Olivieri via submission (rear-naked choke) ? Round 3, 3:02

For more on UFC on FOX 18 , check out the UFC Events section of the site.

(MMAjunkie’s Matt Erickson contributed to this report on site in Newark .)