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RAF 11 Results: Belal Muhammad outworks Ben Askren in Askren’s final match

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RAF 11 Results: Belal Muhammad outworks Ben Askren in Askren’s final match

Ben Askren didn't win, but he's a winner simply for making it to the mat.

On Saturday night, Askren competed for the final time, losing by points to Belal Muhammad at RAF 11.

Last year, Askren suffered serious complications from pneumonia, flatlining several times, and ultimately requiring a lung transplant to survive. It seemed unlikely that Askren would ever compete again, but after a year of recovery and work, the former Olympian got himself ready for one final match. But it was an open question about how Askren would look in the match given his health complications, and while Askren didn't show off much of his classic “Funky†style, the man still has a strong foundation in fundamentals and put that on display.

Defense was the name of the game for Askren, who stuffed all offense from Muhammad, who was not particularly aggressive, perhaps out of deference to Askren's comeback story, or perhaps just respectful of Askren's wrestling pedigree. But give credit to Askren, who also did a phenomenal job of hand-fighting and not allowing Muhammad to gain any offensive purchase.

In the second period, Askren finally initiated offense of his own, driving Muhammad out for a takedown attempt, and then another, which forced Muhammad to open his offense up, but Askren remained stalwart.

Muhammad started to really press forward in the final period and finally scored a takedown on Askren, who was really fading down the stretch. And Muhammad took advantage, scoring again on Askren, who was really showing his exhaustion. He did his best to fend Muhammad off down the stretch, but once Muhammad took a lead, Askren had no real ability to come back, losing a decision to Muhammad.

After the bout, Muhammad put Askren over, imploring the crowd to give him a standing ovation, and then calling out Colby Covington.

Askren then took the mic to give his final thoughts before taking off his wrestling shoes, signifying his retirement.

“I get tired real fast these days. … I tried as hard as I could in the third period, but my legs wouldn't carry me any longer.

“For sure my last time on the mat, and I love you guys. I really do.â€

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Mike Perry dislocates shoulder, Brandon Jenkins delivers upset victory at Brand Duel

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Mike Perry dislocates shoulder, Brandon Jenkins delivers upset victory at Brand Duel

Mike Perry's fight week went from bad to worse after he suffered a dislocated shoulder and a first-round TKO loss to late notice replacement Brandon Jenkins at Brand Duel in Orlando on Saturday night.

Following Dillon Danis' withdrawal just two days before the event was scheduled to take place, Perry accepted the short-notice fight against Jenkins. But early in the opening round, Perry's shoulder popped out of place and while the fight was allowed to continue, it didn't take long for Jenkins to deliver the finishing blow with a nasty body kick followed by some ground and pound to end it.

“What is it 15 hours' notice?†Jenkins said after the win. “It was a no-brainer, I was coming out here. They called me, I said yes. I asked for Nate Diaz but I got Mike Perry. Hopefully I can get a good fight with Nate Diaz next.â€

Perry was on the attack from the jump with Jenkins backing him off with a slick spinning back elbow. Jus as Jenkins was gaining some momentum, Perry unloaded a combination of punches followed by a hard left hand that landed clean.

During an exchange, Perry winced after it appeared his shoulder popped out of place and Jenkins attacked with a body kick that sent the “King of Violence†down to the canvas. Replays showed that Perry's injury really was a freak occurrence as he held onto Jenkins with his left hand while through right uppercuts but it was his left shoulder that popped out of place.

Rather than stop the fight due to Perry's injury, the referee allowed the action to continue and Jenkins stayed on the attack. He unleashed another vicious body kicks that sent Perry crashing to the canvas.

Jenkins followed him to the ground where he continued hammering away with punches until the referee saw enough and stopped the fight at 2:38 in the first round.

Perry was down on the canvas for several moments as medical personnel tended to him and attempted to put the shoulder back in place as he was writhing in pain.

It's an unfortunate ending for Perry after he signed up to fight Danis but ultimately suffered a serious injury and fell to a new opponent on just 48 hours' notice. It's unclear at this time how long Perry might be out of action with the shoulder injury but his night ends on a loss while Jenkins gets the biggest win of his career.

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Joe Lauzon wins bare-knuckle debut after scoring 5 brutal knockdowns

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Joe Lauzon wins bare-knuckle debut after scoring 5 brutal knockdowns

Joe Lauzon made the most of his bare-knuckle debut while fighting at home in Fenway Park in Boston.

The longtime UFC veteran decided to end his hiatus from combat sports and return for a fight in BKFC after the promotion announced plans to hold an event in the historic baseball stadium. The 42-year-old veteran didn't look like he skipped a beat as he came out guns blazing against Stash Kuykendall on Saturday night.

Right away, Lauzon pushed Kuykendall back towards the ropes and he immediately started digging to the body with hard shot before unloading a right hand that ended in a knockdown. With Kuykendall obviously still hurt, Lauzon just kept coming forward and blasting away with huge punches including another right hand that scored a second knockdown.

Lauzon earned one more knockdown but ran out of time in the first round to potentially end the fight.

On the restart, Lauzon wasted no time putting Kuykendall down again and it was clear the writing was on the wall that this fight wasn't going to last much longer.

In the next exchange, Lauzon uncorked a hellacious left hand that twisted Kuykendall's head around and he went face first down to the canvas. To his credit, Kuykendall did manage to get back to his feet but he was so badly damaged the referee Dan Miragliotta had no choice but to stop the fight with the end coming at 49 seconds into the second round.

Afterwards, Lauzon seemed to make it clear this was a one-and-done for him in bare-knuckle fighting unless BKFC decides to make a return trip to Boston in the future.

“We always fight like it's a car crash,†Lauzon said after the win. “I felt like I hit him pretty good. I've got a swollen eye but that's the way it goes. If you come back to Fenway, we'll talk about it.â€

Lauzon has always been a fan-favorite and he definitely had the home crowd on his side on Saturday for his bare-knuckle debut. It seems unlikely that he'll be back again but Lauzon lived out a dream fighting at Fenway Park and he leaves with a 1-0 record in BKFC.

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LIVE! Spaten Fight Night 3 Results: Shogun vs. Teixeira

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LIVE! Spaten Fight Night 3 Results: Shogun vs. Teixeira

MMA Fighting has Spaten Fight Night 3 results for the Shogun vs. Teixeira fight card and more from Estádio do Pacaembu in Sao Paulo, Brazil, on Saturday night.

In the main event, former UFC champions Shogun Rua and Glover Teixeira square off in a boxing contest. Both Rua and Teixeira ended their decorated MMA careers at UFC 283 on Jan. 21, 2023. Rua ended his career with a 27-14-1 record, and Teixeira, the current coach of former UFC champion Alex Pereira, closed at 33-9.

Luan Medeiros and Juan Cruz face off in the co-main event in a boxing match as well.

Olympic gold medalist Bia Souza competes against Raz Hershko in a judo contest on the main card.

Check out Spaten Fight Night 3 results below.

Mauricio Rua vs. Glover Teixeira — boxing

Luan Medeiros vs. Juan Cruz — boxing

Raz Hershko def. Bia Souza via golden score — judo

Rafaela Silva def. Prisca Awiti on points — judo

Felipe Preguiça def. Nicholas Meregali via unanimous decision (29-28 x3)— jiu-jitsu

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