Sapo suffers eye poke and title fight against Askren ends without result

B. Askren (left) and L. Sapo (right) should face each other again soon. Photo: Disclosure/ONE FC

The welterweight belt dispute at the ONE FC Asian event between Brazilian Luís Sapo and North American champion Ben Askren, which took place this Friday morning (24) in Brazil, evening in the Philippines, ended with a tremendous anticlimax. Still in the first round, Askren involuntarily punched Sapo in the eye and the fight was declared No Contest (fight without result).

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The duel was balanced in the first half, with Sapo even managing to take down the decorated player wrestler of Academy roufusport, where he is teammates with names such as the former lightweight champion Anthony Pettis. However, even before the middle of the round, with 2:42 remaining on the clock, Askren ended up hitting the Brazilian with his left thumb in the eye while trying for a takedown. Immediately, Sapo accused the blow and the fight was stopped.

The Brazilian made use of the five minutes he was entitled to to try to recover, but was advised by his corner to only return to the fight if he was fully capable of performing. While Sapo talked to his trainers and was evaluated by a doctor, Askren remained pacing the cage and complaining, as if suggesting that the opponent would not insist on resuming the duel. With the challenger unable to see due to an involuntary blow, the fight ended up being declared a No Contest.

After the fight, Askren asked for the title fight to be rescheduled as soon as possible. Although the ONE FC organization has not yet officially taken a position, the tendency, based on what happens in cases like this, is that a rematch for the belt will happen as soon as both fighters are able to do so.

Watch the fight between Ben Askren and Luís Sapo below:

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