This doesn’t even make sense to me! I could maybe understand gum, but knowing you’re about to get punched in the face – why would you chew on something sharp that could poke through your mouth or tongue?! smh.
According to Brett Okamoto at ESPN.com:
UFC lightweight champion Benson Henderson apparently fought with a toothpick in his mouth during his entire 25-minute title fight against Nate Diaz on Saturday.
Henderson declined to answer directly in an immediate postfight interview when asked whether he had a toothpick in his mouth during the fight. Asked again at a news conference later that night, Henderson admitted he regularly trains that way.
“I cannot confirm or deny that,” Henderson said with a smirk. “I normally do, yeah. I have it in practice (and) when I spar. It’s a bad habit, but whatever. I’ve gotten away with it so far.”
Internet videos that later surfaced confirmed the presence of what appeared to be a toothpick sticking out of Henderson’s mouth at the conclusion of the fight.
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