Askren overcomes vicious body slam, submits Lawler to win UFC debut
It wasn't without controversy, but Ben Askren emerged from his UFC debut victorious.
The undefeated welterweight won his much-anticipated Octagon debut, submitting veteran Robbie Lawler late in the first round of their UFC 235 matchup.
Askren overcame a vicious body slam from Lawler in the opening sequence.
ROBBIE LAWLER!!! Un salvaje #UFC235 pic.twitter.com/cyJe7m6HVN
— UFC Español (@UFCEspanol) March 3, 2019
Things looked dire for Askren, but he recovered to catch Lawler with a bulldog choke.
Ben Askren derrota a Robbie Lawler por sumisión en la primera ronda. Lawler casi noquea a Askren en los primeros 30 segundos, Herb Dean está a punto de detener la pelea pero Askren sobrevive y logra el derribo.
— Mundo MMA (@esmundomma) March 3, 2019
Después, Dean cree que Lawler se ha desmayado y detiene la pelea. pic.twitter.com/rmLS1ZFvi3
Lawler disputed the stoppage immediately, however.
In his post-fight interview, Askren deferred any controversy to referee Herb Dean, stating his job is only to fight.
"I want to know how long until Dana bitches about that stoppage," he said to a booing audience.
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