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LAS VEGAS – One of UFC 235's most talked-about fights going into the event's most talked-about afterward, too, due to a controversial stoppage.
In a featured welterweight bout on the hand card, Ben Askren (19-0 MMA, 1-0 UFC) made his winning debut with a first-round submission win over champion Robbie Lawler (28-13 MMA, 13-7 UFC) . But immediately after referee Herb Dean waved off the fight, believing Lawler was out of a choke bulldog, Lawler popped up in protest.
Replays shown Lawler 's right arm appearing to go limp. Dean checked the arm, then stopped the fight a second later. A visibly upset Lawler argued with Dean, momentarily, then appeared to quickly come to terms with the outcome.
After the event, the Nevada State Athletic Commission Executive Director Bob Bennett told MMAjunkie at a post-fight news conference that the commission's stance is that it is no longer the case that it has been referees before fights on the side of bail.
"With the Nevada State Athletic Commission, our No. 1 priority is the health and safety of the fighter," Bennett told MMAjunkie. "In our pre- (fight briefings), I specifically instruct the referees that we stop the fights one punch or one kick sooner (rather) than later in the interest in the health and safety of the fighter.
"Robbie is a phenomenal warrior. He's been in the business for quite some time. He was clearly out … and Herb decided to pull the plug and say he was submitted. … Robbie jumped right up and said, 'Hey, what the (expletive), man? I was good, and it had a conversation. Kudos to Robbie, because he was a consummate professional, talked to Herb afterward, came to whatever understanding they did, congratulated the opponent, and that was the end of the fight. I can tell you right now the executive director, and on behalf of the commission, none of us had a problem with that. "
UFC 235 took place at T-Mobile Arena in Las Vegas. The main card aired on pay-per-view following prelims on ESPN and UFC Fight Pass.
The state of Nevada is using a modified version of the universal MMA ruleset, and video replay is available to referees if necessary. In fact, unlike most other state athletic commissions, the new rule in Nevada is that it is allowed to be restarted after replay is consulted, rather than automatically over if it is involved.
But in Askren's win over Lawler, Dean did not use the replay after making his decision to stop the fight, which came at the 3:20 mark of the first round.
"In that particular instance, we do not need instant replay," Bennett said. "Herb did not ask for it (from us), nor did I think we needed it because it was right in front of me. You take a look at his arm, and it was a no-brainer from where we sat. … when you see that just drop arm, it's just not worth it for the fighter.
"You could see it in front of us when it was picked up, it would be indicative of it being out. … There was no doubt in our mind that he was out. "
Askren's choke on Lawler at the end of a massive early onslaught from Lawler that left the unbeaten Askren battered and his face bloodied. Askren, an elite Olympic-level wrestler who was making his UFC debut after a brief retreat on the heels of titles for Bellator and ONE Championship, was taken down by Lawler early in the fight and dumped onto his head.
But after surviving Lawler's barrage by being just defensive enough to keep him out of the way of the first time. .
After the controversial win, President UFC President Dana White, long year ago asked the UFC, said he hopes to make a rematch between him and Lawler. But Askren said UFC on ESPN + 5 main event between Darren Till and Jorge Masvidal, which takes place later in London. Askren said he will be in London to watch that fight.
For complete coverage of UFC 235, check out the UFC Events section of the site.
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