Jorge Masvidal set a UFC record for the fastest knockout in the promotion’s history with his five-second knockout of Ben Askren at UFC 239 on Saturday night in Las Vegas. Based on the way he charged out when the fight began, it was clear the move was premeditated, but seeing video of him practicing it makes it all the more incredible.
Masvidal’s coach Mike Brown shared video on social media Sunday of Masvidal practicing the move in training just two days before the fight:
48 hours earlier, @GamebredFighter was plotting
(via Instagram/MikeBrownMMA) pic.twitter.com/0gbXqBP0eY
— UFC (@ufc) July 7, 2019
Fellow fighter Dustin Poierier also revealed on Saturday night that Brown and Masvidal had divulged his plan for the start of the fight when they were at dinner together the night before.
Mike brown and masvidal told me last night at dinner he was gonna Start this fight with a flying knee and showed me video on Mike's phone of him practicing
— The Diamond (@DustinPoirier) July 7, 2019
— The Diamond (@DustinPoirier) July 7, 2019
“It was in the back of my pocket,” Masvidal said after the fight.
Masvidal said he wanted to use the move in the first round, but he wasn’t sure of the timing of it. He said he could tell Askren was falling for the bait, not thinking he would be coming out charging hard, and decided to use it to start. It worked to perfection.
Masvidal is now 34-13, while Askren suffered his first ever pro MMA loss.
