Askren does not bear in mind knockout, feels high-quality
Marc RaimondiESPN
Ben Askren says he has no excellent well being points following a brutal knockout over the weekend.
Jorge Masvidal landed a working knee to Askren’s head simply after the opening bell of their UFC 239 battle Saturday night time in Las Vegas. The bout was dominated a five-second KO, the quickest in UFC historical past.
Askren was unconscious on affect and went limp. It was a daunting scene within the cage at T-Cell Enviornment with Askren attempting to stand up a number of occasions and never having the ability to. On his manner out of the sector, Askren’s eyes appeared glazed over.
On Monday’s Ariel Helwani’s MMA Present, Askren stated his final reminiscence was being within the cage with Masvidal, however he didn’t recall the knockout and had no different recollection till he was within the hospital. When he lastly absolutely got here to, although, Askren stated he felt OK.
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“When all the pieces clicked, it was like my head did not damage, my face did not damage,” Askren stated. “Nothing damage. I felt completely high-quality. There was no headache, no abdomen ache, no nothing. Actually nothing. It was simply, ‘Ugh this sucks.’ I stored groaning the entire night time, ‘Ugh, I misplaced to that man?'”
Askren stated docs carried out a CT scan on the hospital and it got here again damaging for something improper together with his mind. However he figures he was certainly concussed by Masvidal’s blow.
“They stated their take a look at did not present something, clearly,” Askren stated. “However the truth that I went unconscious, I imagine that is outlined as a concussion.”
Askren, who got here into the battle undefeated, stated he was launched from the hospital by 10 p.m. and nonetheless went to his after get together. He stated he slept in Sunday, went to the pool after which had dinner with buddies. Aside from struggling his first loss to somebody he had unhealthy blood with coming in, Askren stated he was principally high-quality and accepting of the setback.
“I bear in mind being within the cage with him,” Askren stated. “I do not actually bear in mind the flying knee. After which after I [could] recall, I bear in mind all the pieces. I used to be like, ‘Oh s—, I misplaced to Jorge Masvidal. This freakin’ sucks.'”
Askren, 34, was complimentary of Masvidal’s execution of the knee. He stated he anticipated some type of method like that immediately, however Masvidal was capable of land completely.
“I am seeing folks saying Jorge received fortunate,” Askren stated. “That is not fortunate, man. Is it gonna occur 100 out of 100 occasions, positively not. However touchdown a knee like that takes plenty of ability. I could not do such a factor.”
Askren (19-1, 1 NC), who constructed the battle up with loads of trash speak beforehand, stated he nonetheless doesn’t like Masvidal as an individual, however believes he is a very good fighter. He stated he has not seen any of Masvidal’s post-fight feedback and was high-quality with Masvidal punching him twice when he was already unconscious.
“I antagonized the s— out of him,” Askren stated. “That was on goal. I used to be attempting to first get him to simply accept the battle, second then make him mad. Like these further punches, it is high-quality. It is most likely what needs to be anticipated in a state of affairs like that.”
The previous Bellator and ONE champion stated that the final time he misplaced in a aggressive setting like this, one during which he was significantly making ready for, was when he wrestled within the 2008 Summer season Olympics.
Askren stated he does not assume it is a unhealthy factor that he misplaced. He coaches youth wrestling and believes studying failure and battle is a key a part of constructing character. He stated he desires the identical factor for his personal children. Askren stated he will not change his wrestling-heavy fashion in MMA simply because he was caught as soon as. He stated that might be “affirmation bias.”
“Now as a result of I received kneed within the head one time I want to vary all the pieces?” Askren stated. “I do not assume that is a wholesome manner to consider issues.”