Ben Rothwell after UFC on FOX 18 win: My submission skills are like a cheat code

Ben Rothwell has been clamoring for a shot at the UFC title for some time, but he’s never been closer than he is following his submission win over Josh Barnett in this past Saturday’s UFC on FOX 18 co-main event at Prudential Center in Newark, N.J.

Barnett (34-8 MMA, 6-3 UFC) had suffered only two submission losses in his lengthy career before finding his neck caught in the gogo choke of Rothwell (36-9 MMA, 6-3 UFC). Making the submission more impressive is that neither of the prior submission losses was due to an actual hold; both came against Mirko Filipovic, one due to a shoulder injury, the other due to punches.

It’s a high honor for Rothwell, who entered the fight as the No. 6-ranked fighter in the USA TODAY Sports/MMAjunkie MMA heavyweight rankings, to score the tap. What it was not, according to Rothwell, was a fluke.

His gogo choke is something he’s come to rely on as an integral part of his game, and under the guidance of jiu-jitsu coach Luiz Claudio, Rothwell has become a threat to finish the fight anywhere. A major part of the effectiveness of the choke is opponents not understanding the hold, and thus not knowing how to defend against it.

“I’m not going to show the technique, but it’s obviously the hand grip,” Rothwell said following Saturday’s event. “I hear people say things like ’10-finger,’ ‘squeezle diesel’ and different variations of guillotine. It’s none of those. If you watch what they do with those, Luiz and I shake our head. It’s something very unique. I’m proud of being able to represent it with Luiz because Rickson Gracie is a renowned black belt, and that’s who made Luiz a black belt. When Rickson Gracie goes to Luiz, he says, ‘Show me this gogo.’ That’s something special.”

Rothwell is now riding a four-fight winning streak. With wins over Barnett, Matt Mitrione, Alistair Overeem and Brandon Vera during that stretch, he has thrust himself into the title picture, and his confidence is at an all-time high.

“I feel like my submission skills are like a cheat code out there right now,” Rothwell said. “Guys don’t know what I’m doing. They think it’s going to stop with the choke. If a guy does get his takedown, it’s not going to end there. I have an array of deadly skills off of my back, on top – wherever the fight goes, I’m ready to end it.

“I know a lot of people say that, but I’m proving it out there. Wherever the fight goes, I’m going to end it.”

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