Jul 6, 2019; Las Vegas, NV, USA; Jorge Masvidal (red gloves) punches Ben Askren (blue gloves) at T-Mobile Arena. Jorge Masvidal set a new record for the fastest knockout in UFC history with five seconds. Mandatory Credit: Stephen R. Sylvanie-USA TODAY Sports

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Despite Heated Rivalry, Jorge Masvidal Sends Heartfelt Message To Ben Askren Amid Health Battle

Jorge Masvidal sends a heartwarming message to Ben Askren; putting aside their intense rivalry!

Fighters trash talk each other for months leading up to their bouts, sometimes crossing lines that make fans uncomfortable. The business side of fighting often demands this kind of drama because it sells tickets. However, beneath all the manufactured hatred and promotional antics, most fighters understand they are all part of the same dangerous profession. They know that any night could be their last in the cage, and they share a bond that outsiders rarely understand.

Jorge Masvidal and Ben Askren had one of those rivalries that felt genuinely personal. Their 2019 fight at UFC 239 became legendary when Masvidal landed a flying knee knockout in just five seconds, the fastest finish in UFC welterweight history. The buildup to that fight was filled with heated exchanges and genuine dislike between the two men. Askren’s wrestling heavy style and sometimes cocky personality clashed with Masvidal’s street fighter mentality and Miami swagger. But sometimes life puts things in perspective, and recent events have shown that even the fiercest rivals can put their differences aside when it really matters.

Ben Askren’s recent health scare has been terrifying. The former UFC welterweight contender and Olympic wrestler found himself fighting for his life in June when a staph infection developed into severe pneumonia. What started as a routine infection quickly became a life threatening situation that required doctors to place him on a ventilator. The 40 year old former fighter underwent a double lung transplant and lost 50 pounds in just 45 days while his body fought to survive.

Jorge Masvidal Buries The Hatchet With Ben Askren

Jorge Masvidal surprised many people when he reached out to his former rival with a heartfelt message of support. The former BMF champion took to social media to send Ben Askren words of encouragement during his recovery process.

“This goes out to the one and only, Ben Askren. What’s up, my brother? I know we were rivals in the ring. I just wanna say, God bless you, and when I get back in America, if I can come shake your hand, brother, and just share a prayer with you, it’ll be amazing, man.”

Jorge Masvidal sends out a message of support to Ben Askren 🙏❤️

“I know you’re gonna pull through this because you’re a f***ing warrior brother.”

🎥 @GamebredFighter pic.twitter.com/f9ub3fc80b
— Championship Rounds (@ChampRDS) July 12, 2025

His tone was completely different from the trash talk that defined their previous interactions. The Miami native expressed hope that they could meet face to face once he returns to America. This gesture from Masvidal proves that the fighting community is much closer than outsiders realize. Despite their heated rivalry and the dramatic knockout that ended their fight, Masvidal recognizes Askren as a fellow warrior who deserves respect and support during his toughest battle!

(Image Credit: Stephen R. Sylvanie – Imagn Images)

Ben Askren

Jorge Masvidal

Zaid Quraishi

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I am a dedicated MMA and Boxing content writer at The Playoffs. I was instantly hooked on MMA after watching the fight between Lyoto Machida vs. Gegard Mousasi back in 2014, and since then, i have been an avid writer with a deep love for the sport and its techniques, providing readers with a thorough understanding of the sport. My favorite aspect of working at The Playoffs is the creative freedom it provides. The diverse range of topics, from listicles and SEO to news articles, keeps me engaged and motivates me to continuously improve my skills! I aim to capture the excitement of the combat sports world in my writing, acting as the middleman between fighters and their die-hard fans. It is kind of like a referee, but with words!