Ben Askren explains how he got over Jorge Masvidal loss

Ben Askren, Reebok

Ben Askren experienced the first loss of his professional MMA career earlier this year, and it was a tough one.

The loss occurred in a UFC 239 battle with Jorge Masvidal. Five seconds and one flying knee into the fight, and Askren’s undefeated record was no more.

It was a tough pill to swallow for the trash-talking wrestler, but he managed to get over it.

He explained how he moved past this loss ahead of his imminent, UFC Singapore fight with Demian Maia.

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Apparently, it was as simple as having a few drinks, sleeping in, and picking himself up.

“That night I went to the after party,” Askren told the assembled media in Singapore (via South China Morning Post). “The next day my wife and I slept in and I went to a pool party. There was no time to waste sitting crying in my room. I just got up and kept moving. The next week I was coaching a bunch of kids at a national tournament so life moves on, you don’t have time to sit and feel sorry for yourself.

“All my life I’ve been a slow starter and later in my life it was recognized as a weakness. So then I became a faster starter. Jorge likes to start fast and I knew that. I knew he was going to try something right away and he hit the right spot at the right time. And that was it. It wasn’t even like I learned a lesson. I knew something was coming. Just not that.”

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Askren also commented on his looming showdown with Maia — a matchup he seems very excited about.

“It’s a different fight,” he said. “I think it’s going to be a lot of fun for me strategically. I’ve brought in a couple of jiu-jitsu guys to help me prepare and I feel like I am ready. It all starts Saturday night. Again.”

Do you think Ben Askren will get back on track in Singapore this weekend?

This article first appeared on BJPENN.COM on 10/23/2019. 

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