Jasmine Jasudavicius has debunked rumors that she competed with a nicotine pouch in her mouth during her UFC Winnipeg fight against Karine Silva. The Canadian flyweight fighter explained that the white object visible between rounds was, in fact, chewing gum. This clarification comes after video footage from her bout circulated online, sparking widespread debate on MMA social media platforms.
Jasmine Jasudavicius Addresses Nicotine Pouch Speculation After Victory
The speculation arose during Jasudavicius’ fight on April 18 in Winnipeg, where cameras captured a white item in her mouth after she removed her mouthguard. She was seen repositioning it under her lower lip before reinserting the mouthguard, leading to assumptions that she was using a Zyn nicotine pouch.
“It’s so funny because I’m one of the only people in the gym who doesn’t use those nicotine pouches. I train with gum, and I was warming up with gum… I’ve fought with gum in the past, but I forgot to spit it out before the walkout, and it was still in my mouth. It’s better than a toothpick… If I choke on it, then I’m the one to blame.”
Jasudavicius found the claims amusing and explained her side of the story. She had been using gum during her warm-up and inadvertently forgot to remove it before walking out to the octagon. She mentioned that she has fought with gum in her mouth before and considers it a safer alternative to a toothpick, taking full responsibility should any mishap occur. The fact that she doesn’t use nicotine pouches made the misinterpretation even more humorous to her.
The rapid reaction from fans and observers is understandable, given the Unified Rules of Mixed Martial Arts, which prohibit foreign substances on the body and regulate equipment and safety during competition. Any foreign object in a fighter’s mouth can be considered a violation of the rules, thus drawing significant attention beyond typical fight-night discussions.
The situation drew comparisons to Benson Henderson, who was known for fighting with a toothpick in his mouth earlier in his career. This historical precedent likely contributed to the immediate viral spread of the Jasudavicius clip, particularly following her impressive win in front of her home crowd.
In the actual fight, Jasudavicius secured a unanimous decision victory over Silva, with all three judges scoring the bout 29-28. UFC Stats indicated that she landed three takedowns compared to Silva’s none. This win improved Jasudavicius’ professional record to 15-4, helping her recover from her previous loss to Manon Fiorot.
In conclusion, Jasmine Jasudavicius did not have a nicotine pouch in her mouth during her UFC Winnipeg fight against Karine Silva. According to her, it was simply chewing gum the entire time.
