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Ben Askren defends controversial UFC 235 finish: ‘I saw the arm go limp’

As far as Ben Askren is concerned, he took care of business at UFC 235.

The former Bellator and ONE welterweight champion made his long-awaited Octagon debut Saturday in Las Vegas, drawing one of the sport’s most feared knockout artists “Ruthless” Robbie Lawler. Askren almost became a statistic as he was slammed and barraged with punches in the opening minutes of the fight, only to come back and secure a bulldog choke that led to a controversial stoppage.

In the heat of the moment, referee Herb Dean ruled that Lawler had passed out.