LAS VEGAS – Given that UFC newcomer Ben Askren garnered a fair amount of the media attention heading into UFC 235 this week, his fight with Robbie Lawler was a feature attraction. What the UFC didn’t need was the fight to end in controversy.
After weathering an initial offensive blitz from Lawler, Askren was able to recover enough to reset. Midway through the first round, he took Lawler down to the canvas, and moments later sunk a bulldog choke on the former champion.
As Askren was squeezing the choke, referee Herb Dean came in to gauge whether or not Lawler was fending it off.