An MMA referee said Jake Paul's KO win over Ben Askren was 'no conspiracy' after complaints the bout was fixed
An MMA referee said Jake Paul's knockout win over Ben Askren was "no conspiracy" after various complaints online that Saturday's bout in Atlanta was fixed.
The 24-year-old YouTube creator finished the two-time MMA champion, 36, in the opening round of a bout that topped an event heavily reliant on musical acts, props, and a marijuana-smoking Snoop Dogg on commentary.
Noted combat sports ref Marc Goddard may not have officiated the fight but was still a keen observer, and tweeted: "The referee [Brian Stutts] made the right call for Ben Askren. No work. No conspiracy. No one was 'in on it.'
"[He was] just a referee preventing a foregone conclusion," Goddard said. "We don't always need to see a kill shot."
The referee made the right call for Ben Askren. No work. No conspiracy. No one was “in on it”. Just a referee preventing a forgone conclusion. We don’t always need to see a kill shot.
— Marc Goddard (@marcgoddard_uk) April 18, 2021
After seemingly being inundated with tweets alleging a conspiracy, Paul also responded on social media.
"Everyone saying the fight was rigged is tweeting off their mom's WiFi," said Paul.
Everyone saying the fight was rigged is tweeting off their moms WiFi
— Jake Paul (@jakepaul) April 18, 2021
Speaking further to MMA Junkie on the night, Paul claimed Askren got off lightly even though he knocked him out with a one-two punch combination.
He said Askren was lucky.
"I had another big mother f------ right hand coming for him, and he would've been unconscious for a lot longer than that. The ref saved him.
"He's lucky [because] he would've been an even bigger meme," Paul added. "It would've been more viral if they let him back into the fight. I had a big, big punch coming for him."
Victory advanced Paul's pro boxing record to 3-0-0, 3KOs.