It’s been seven years since one of the most memorable knockouts in UFC history — and for now, the fastest.
In the featured fight on the main card at UFC 329, which took place July 6, 2019, at T-Mobile Arena in Las Vegas, Jorge Masvidal put away Ben Askren in 5 seconds to set the new promotional standard for fastest finish.
Advertisement
Masvidal went straight to the center of the cage and launched a flying knee, and it was on the button. Askren, a former champion with Bellator and ONE Championship, never had lost a fight until then, let alone been put away. He came in 19-0 after a win in his UFC debut over ex-welterweight champ Robbie Lawler earlier in 2019.
But after Askren was starched by Masvidal, he fought just once more in the UFC – a submission loss to Demian Maia – before he left the sport. He boxed Jake Paul in 2021, but was knocked out in the first round. Most notably, though, he had a medical emergency a year ago that left him in a coma for more than six weeks, but his miraculous recovery continues, and may even continue to include competition.
For Masvidal, the win was in the midst of a one-year superstar run that saw him finish Darren Till, Askren and Nate Diaz – the latter of which won him the inaugural BMF title. But after that, he lost four straight in the UFC and is inactive in MMA. He’s competed in boxing, grappling and has his own promotion.
Check out his 5-second finish of Askren in the video above.
This article originally appeared on MMA Junkie: This Date in MMA History: Masvidal starches Askren in 5 seconds at UFC 239
