MMA News

Tag: Ben Askren

  • Ben Askren Identified Problem Holding Francis Ngannou Back And It Has Nothing To Do With His Fighting

    Ben Askren Identified Problem Holding Francis Ngannou Back And It Has Nothing To Do With His Fighting

    Ben Askren says Francis Ngannou’s biggest problem since leaving the UFC is the same one Askren faced when he left Bellator for ONE Championship — a lack of credible dance partners.

    Ngannou returned to MMA last Saturday with a first-round knockout of Philipe Lins at MVP MMA 1 on Netflix. Speaking on Daniel Cormier’s YouTube channel, Askren drew a parallel to his own career.

    “Actually, you know, that was one of my big issues is when Dana wouldn’t sign me in 2013, and then I went to ONE Championship. So, I was thinking of this of Francis, and this has been Francis’ problem ever since he left the UFC. Maybe it’s been like three or four years now? It feels like a little while, but you need dance partners. And when I left Bellator and went to ONE Championship, I just didn’t have anyone who could really fight with me. So it was hard to build it, you know? And Francis is in the exact same situation where he’s got no one that can really fight with him, and you need that to build a star.”

    Ngannou parted ways with the UFC as heavyweight champion. Potential opponents of the caliber of Tom Aspinall, Alex Pereira, and Jon Jones are unavailable to him given their UFC contracts and the promotion’s strained relationship with Ngannou.

  • Ben Askren Stunned to Wake Up With Two Brand New Lungs: “Doctor told my wife I wouldn’t make it”

    Ben Askren Stunned to Wake Up With Two Brand New Lungs: “Doctor told my wife I wouldn’t make it”

    Former UFC fighter Ben Askren has admitted that he couldn’t believe it when he was informed that he had received a double lung transplant.

    As we know, one of the biggest stories in mixed martial arts this year has been the incredible tale of Ben Askren. After a severe bout of staph infection which led to pneumonia, it seemed as if the former UFC and ONE Championship star was in a pretty bad way. Ultimately, though, he was able to fight back against his illness, to the point where he received a double lung transplant that quite literally saved his life.

    The MMA and wrestling community came out with as much support as they possibly could for Ben Askren during what were obviously very traumatic times. Now, though, he’s on the road to recovery, and while his life will look very different moving forward, he has been given a second chance that many don’t get.

    In a recent interview, Ben Askren spoke openly about what happened and his surprise to learn that he had two new lungs upon waking up.

    Ben Askren details medical situation

    “When I woke up, I had two new lungs. They called it necrotizing pneumonia. Prior to going to the hospital, I felt fine—I’d even worked out. It was shocking. One doctor told my wife I wouldn’t make it; another friend said my heart stopped for 20 seconds. I don’t remember it, but I was on so many machines to stay alive.”

    A true inspiration.

  • Ben Askren Shows Ability To Now Walk on Social Media – On The Recovery Journey

    Ben Askren Shows Ability To Now Walk on Social Media – On The Recovery Journey

    Ben Askren’s road to recovery has taken a turn for the positive.

    In May, the former Bellator and ONE world champion was healthy as a horse and plotting out the rest of his 2025. Sadly, those plans fell by the wayside when he was suddenly hospitalized due to severe pneumonia caused by a staph infection. After being in a coma for 45 days, during which his heart reportedly stopped on four separate occasions, Askren finally awakened to find himself 50 pounds lighter and with no recollection of the last six weeks.

    Askren ultimately underwent a double lung transplant and was later discharged after a full 59 days in the hospital. However, ‘Funky’ found himself readmitted to just six days later due to a potential chest tube infection.

    “As you guys can probably tell, I’m not home anymore, unfortunately,” Askren said in a video on Instagram. “I had my first check up this morning. They didn’t like the way the last chest tube looked, thought it was infected, put me on some antibiotics and then had a few x-rays and hopefully we get this solved fast.” 

    Ben Askren shares positive update following readmission

    Understandably, fans started to fear the worst, but they were given a reason to celebrate recently when Askren shared a video of himself walking laps around the hospital.

    Commenters flooded the post with positive vibes, praising the former Olympian’s heart and determination.

    “I remember those laps around the hospital vividly,” one commenter wrote. “Humbling and the hardest laps of my life. It gets better, keep up the good work brother.”

    “Proud of you my brother,” another added. “Keep going!!!”

    “Love to see it! Continues prayers going your way Ben! God bless,” a third said.

    “Askren strong,” three time Bellator titleholder Sergio Pettis wrote.

  • Ben Askren Hospitalized Again Due To Chest Infection

    Ben Askren Hospitalized Again Due To Chest Infection

    Ben Askren’s journey to recovery has hit a road block, and he is back in the hospital.

    Just under a week after announcing that he was back home after an approximately two-month hospitalization, Askren has been hospitalized again following a first check-up.

    According to a new video published by Askren, doctors found a chest infection that has resulted in his return.

    “Well, as you guys can probably tell, I’m not home anymore, unfortunately,” Askren said. “I had my first checkup this morning [July 28]. They didn’t like the way the last chest tube looked. Thought it was infected, put me on some antibiotics, and then, had a few X-rays. Hopefully get this solved fast.”

    Chest Infection Puts Ben Askren Back In Hospital

    Askren had posted an update to his social media accounts on July 22, announcing that he was returning home after a 58-day hospital stay. The news of his hospitalization was first broken on June 7, with reports at the time stating Askren was in critical condition.

    Askren received a double lung transplant following severe pneumonia — the result of a severe and complicated staph infection.

    The former ONE and Bellator champion, who fought for the UFC three times in 2019, has previously stated that he has no recollection of events from the end of May through early July. He added that he lost 50 pounds and flatlined about four times.

    In this newest update, Askren says he is remaining positive, and that this is one small setback in a larger journey recovery.

    “Stockdale Paradox; it wasn’t always gonna be smooth,” Askren said. “It wasn’t always gonna be easy. It wasn’t gonna always be all the way up. So, hopefully, this is a small hiccup, then I’m back home getting stronger again. I thought you guys [would] appreciate the update.”

  • Ben Askren Released From Hospital, Heading Home

    Ben Askren Released From Hospital, Heading Home

    Ben Askren is finally home.

    In a new update posted to social media, the former Bellator and ONE champion said that after 58 days in the hospital in order to undergo a double lung transplant, he’s finally been released.

    Askren said that he’s still re-learning how to walk along with “other things” — indicating that while the journey is far from over, it’s a new chapter.

    “Surgery was 24 or 25 days ago; it was hard,” an emotional Askren said. “And I said this already in one of the other videos, but the support you guys gave me, whether it was setting up a GoFundMe, whether it was helping my kids or wife get through it — I had friends from come all over the country to just hang out for a couple of days — it meant so much.”

    Ben Askren Home After 58 Days In Hospital

    Askren’s hospitalization was first reported in early June, on the day of UFC 316. Askren suffered pneumonia, following a severe staph infection, and the complications from his condition required a double lung transplant.

    Askren’s insurance denied to cover the operation, leading to many in the MMA community to come together to help support Askren and his family.

    Askren had no memory of the events from May 28 through July 2, previously mentioning that he lost 50 pounds due to his illness and flatlined four times.

    Askren’s wife, Amy, present in the vehicle in the newest update, confirmed that the MMA fighter came “too close” to dying on a number of occasions during his hospital stay.

  • ‘I’m Going To Move Forward The Best I Can’ – Ben Askren Discusses Mindset In Latest Recovery Update

    ‘I’m Going To Move Forward The Best I Can’ – Ben Askren Discusses Mindset In Latest Recovery Update

    Ben Askren took to social media on July 12 to provide another update on his ongoing health recovery.

    Askren reached out to the MMA community, openly discussing his mindset as he deals with recovering from a double lung transplant — needed after Askren suffered pneumonia, following a severe staph infection, which left him hospitalized.

    Askren opened up on his mindset as everything left an impact on him.

    “‘Man, I never smoked one cigarette, never smoked any weed, never did anything,’” Askren said, reflecting. “‘Why did my lungs get stolen from me? Why isn’t this happening to someone who smokes?’ Then I realized…it happened.”

    Ben Askren Says He Will Not Feel Sorry For Himself

    In a video update earlier this week, Askren spoke to the public for the first time since the news of his illness first came out. Askren discussed the effects the illness has had on him, flatlining “just four times” as well as losing 50 pounds and having no memory of events from May 28 to July 2.

    In this newest update, Askren admits while he has gotten down on himself, it’s not something he can do now. Askren promised to stay positive and carry on with how things are.

    “I can be bitter and angry, I could whine and cry, but that’s not going to help anybody,” Askren said. “I am where I am now and I’m going to move forward the best that I can. So I hope you guys are enjoying the updates. I will not feel sorry for myself. I’m going to be out of here very soon.”

    Many in the combat sports world have reached out to share their love and offering assistance. This includes UFC CEO and President Dana White, who called Askren’s recovery an “unbelievable journey” and confirmed at the UFC Nashville post-fight press conference that he provided financial support for Askren and his family.

  • Visibly Frail Ben Askren Speaks Out From Hospital Bed After Life-Saving Lung Transplant

    Visibly Frail Ben Askren Speaks Out From Hospital Bed After Life-Saving Lung Transplant

    Ben Askren may have come dangerously close to the edge, but now he’s recovering.

    Askren was hospitalized in Wisconsin last month with severe pneumonia, which ultimately required him to be placed on a ventilator. Throughout the health scare, his wife, Amy, kept fans updated with consistent posts on social media.

    By June 17, Askren had been sedated and placed on a ventilator, and just two weeks later, on June 30, it was revealed that the former Bellator and ONE welterweight champion had undergone a double lung transplant.

    For the first time since his hospitalization, “Funky” addressed fans directly on Wednesday, posting a heartfelt video on social media to share an update on his condition and reflect on his recovery journey.

    Ben Askren Details Near-Death Experience And Dramatic Weight Loss After Transplant

    In his video message, Ben Askren revealed that he has no memory of the past month and had no idea he had been hospitalized with pneumonia, only learning what had happened through a journal kept by his wife during his time in critical care.

    “I haven’t given you an update in a while and figure you deserve one,” Askren said on Instagram. “Whenever this is all the way over. I just read through my wife’s journal because I don’t remember anything from May 28 to July 2. I have no recollection. No idea. No idea what happened. We’ll kind of go through it all. I just kind of read through my wife’s journal. It’s like a movie. It’s ridiculous.”

    Appearing drastically weakened, “Funky” spoke with a shaky voice as he reflected on how close he came to death during his recent health crisis and revealed that he has lost nearly 50 pounds over the past 45 days.

    “I only died four times where the ticker stopped for about 20 seconds. That’s not ideal. You guys know that. But I got a double lung transplant. I made it out to the other side of it, gaining quite a bit of strength, learning to use everything again. I was actually on the scale yesterday, 147 pounds. I haven’t been 147 pounds since I was 15 years old. I lost 50 pounds in a 45-day period. So, man. That was a battle. Obviously, I don’t remember most of it.”

    After retiring from MMA with a professional record of 19-2 in November 2019, Ben Askren returned to combat sports one final time in April 2021, stepping into the boxing ring against Jake Paul. The bout ended quickly, with “Funky” suffering a first-round TKO loss.

  • Ben Askren In Critical Condition, Hospitalized For Pneumonia

    Ben Askren In Critical Condition, Hospitalized For Pneumonia

    Note: This is a developing story

    UPDATE: Amy Askren, wife of Ben Askren, has posted an update to Facebook, confirming Ben Askren is unresponsive in the hospital. Amy Askren says that Ben Askren suddenly developed pneumonia.

    Former Bellator and ONE Championship welterweight champion Ben Askren has reportedly been hospitalized and is in critical condition, battling a staph infection.

    Tom Ryan, the head coach of the Ohio State wrestling team, sent out a tweet just before 7pm ET on June 7, asking the wrestling community to send prayers for Askren and his family.

    A couple of hours later, Chael Sonnen would tweet out that Askren is alive and for his family’s request of privacy to be respect. Pat Mineo of The Wrestling Room would follow up with the confirmation that Askren is battling a staph infection.

    Ben Askren Battling Severe Staph Infection, In Critical Condition

    Prior to MMA, Askren was a key collegiate wrestler at the University of Missouri, becoming a three-time Big 12 champion and two-time NCAA Division-I champion. He also won gold at the 2005 Pan American Games in freestyle wrestling.

    Askren was a key figure in Bellator’s early days, winning the season 2 welterweight tournament before defeating Lyman Good at Bellator 33 to become Bellator welterweight champion. He’d defend the title four times before departing Bellator for ONE Championship toward the end of 2013.

    In his first year with ONE, Askren defeated Nobutatsu Suzuki to become ONE welterweight champion. He’d retain that title four times as well before retiring as champion at the end of 2017.

    He’d come out of retirement in 2018 after his contract was traded by ONE to the UFC in exchange for Demetrious “Mighty Mouse” Johnson. After controversially defeating Robbie Lawler at UFC 235, Askren was the victim of the fastest KO in UFC history when he was beat by Jorge Masvidal at UFC 239. He’d then be submitted by Demian Maia UFC Singapore before retiring from MMA for good in November 2019.

    Askren then fought Jake Paul in boxing in April 2021, getting stopped in just one round.

  • Ben Askren Explains Why Sean O’Malley Taking Merab Dvalishvili Rematch Is ‘A Bad Move’

    Ben Askren Explains Why Sean O’Malley Taking Merab Dvalishvili Rematch Is ‘A Bad Move’

    Ben Askren believes Sean O’Malley’s decision to have an immediate rematch against Merab Dvalishvili is a risky career move.

    O’Malley is set to challenge Dvalishvili for the bantamweight title at UFC 316 in Newark on June 7. This follows his unanimous decision loss to Dvalishvili at UFC 306 last September.

    Askren, speaking on his Funky and the Champ show alongside Daniel Cormier, broke down why he thinks it is a bad move by the former champ. 

    “I kind of think this is a bad move. If he gets beat up by Merab again, then he loses a whole bunch of attraction because it’s like, well, you already lost to the champ twice, so until the champ goes away, they’re not going to give you a third shot against him. He could have fought some, maybe, lower-ranked guys.”

    Askren further explained his reasoning, suggesting that O’Malley could have benefited from facing opponents less likely to expose his wrestling weaknesses. 

    “Against guys who can’t take him down, he kind of looks like a real freaking superstar, right? He’s really exciting, very diverse striking attack, so he could have looked really good, built the fight back up into something bigger. But now, I feel like everyone is feeling, ‘Hey, we just saw this, it wasn’t competitive. Why do we need to see this again?’”

    Since their first fight Sean O’Malley underwent hip surgery, while Merab Dvalishvili successfully defended his title against Umar Nurmagomedov.

    Despite “Suga’s” striking abilities, Askren remains concerned about the rematch.

    “I wish Sean would have taken some more time to improve his wrestling, but he still has dynamic striking, he has knockout capabilities. Merab has been relatively unstoppable looking in his last handful of fights.”

  • Ben Askren: Islam Makhachev Should Be Stripped Of UFC Title If He Refuses Ilia Topuria Fight

    Ben Askren: Islam Makhachev Should Be Stripped Of UFC Title If He Refuses Ilia Topuria Fight

    Ben Askren is pushing for decisive action against UFC lightweight champion Islam Makhachev should he refuse a fight with Ilia Topuria.

    The controversy stems from Topuria’s take that the UFC guaranteed him an immediate lightweight title opportunity after relinquishing his featherweight belt. 

    Makhachev and his team are now challenging this claim, insisting that Topuria must first prove his worth by defeating a top-ranked contender before they can fight. This disagreement has cast doubt on the potential matchup.

    Askren’s stance is clear: the UFC should compel Makhachev to face Topuria if they made a promise to the newly crowned featherweight champion. He believes that ignoring Topuria’s claim would set a detrimental precedent, undermining the UFC’s credibility and discouraging future champions from making similar moves. 

    “I think Dana (White) should just do Dana stuff and just say, ‘Hey, Islam, if you don’t want to fight, you’re stripped,’” Askren said on his Funky and the Champ show with Daniel Cormier. “He’s done that. That is in Dana’s repertoire. If you’re the champion, you’re supposed to defend the belt against the best person, right? So Ilia has beaten two legends in a row.

    “Not only beat them but finished them at 145 pounds: Volkanovski and Holloway. Very, very clearly the best, choosing to go up. … Given Arman was supposed to have the title shot, and he pulled out on super-late notice so they want to make him fight someone else first. So, that makes perfect sense for Ilia to pop in given the fact that he’s a champion, he’s undefeated, has defeated two legends in a row. I don’t see how you deny him the title shot.”

  • Ben Askren: The Odds Of Jon Jones Fighting Again At ‘Less Than 50 Percent’

    Ben Askren: The Odds Of Jon Jones Fighting Again At ‘Less Than 50 Percent’

    Jon Jones has no scheduled fights, and Ben Askren advises fans not to expect one anytime soon.

    Just three months ago, Jones headlined UFC 309, successfully defending his heavyweight title against Stipe Miocic in a long-anticipated but perhaps not highly demanded matchup.

    Jones made quick work of the 42-year-old, who subsequently announced his retirement. However, the conversation surrounding UFC 309 largely centered on why the champion wasn’t facing his interim counterpart Tom Aspinall instead.

    That fight still appears no closer to happening, and Askren is betting that “Bones” won’t be stepping back into the octagon anytime soon.

    “If there were Kalshi odds on does Jon Jones fight again, I believe it would be less than 50 percent,” Askren said on Daniel Cormier’s YouTube channel. “I think it would be somewhere around 20, 30 percent that he fights again. I would say if there’s odds, I think it’s less than half that he ever fights again.”

    Though Jones has shown little interest in unifying the heavyweight titles with Aspinall, he has expressed openness to a superfight with Alex Pereira, the reigning light heavyweight champion. Pereira has become one of the UFC’s biggest stars, and a matchup between the two champions would undoubtedly generate widespread interest.

    Besides Aspinall, the MMA legend’s other frequently discussed opponent is former UFC heavyweight champion Francis Ngannou. However, Askren believes that fight is highly unlikely due to Ngannou’s current contract with the PFL.

    “That one ain’t happening,” Askren said. “Obviously, I was outside of the UFC for a long time, and I always had the desire—yes, I would love to fight these guys—but I’m under no delusion that Dana White is going to do some type of co-promote or something because he just doesn’t do that. So the idea that Francis is going to fight Jon, that’s a pipe dream.”

    Askren further argued that a “Bones” vs. “Predator” fight could only happen if Ngannou returns to the UFC. Given that Ngannou left the promotion as champion in 2023 and has since secured a lucrative PFL contract that includes the freedom to pursue high-profile boxing matches, “Funky” doesn’t see that as likely.

    “The one thing I wanted to do, I wanted to try to be the best in the world, and I knew I couldn’t do that without fighting the right people,” Askren said. “Francis has already achieved that, so maybe he doesn’t feel the need.

    “And Francis, I don’t think he’s lying—I don’t know that it’s debatable—but I believe he made significantly more money doing the boxing fights outside of the UFC. So if you’ve already proven you’re the best in the world, and listen, there was this Jon Jones thing because Jon Jones didn’t fight for a four-year window or whatever, but yeah, you already proved you’re the best in the world, go make a whole bunch more money. I think that’s great, but if he does want to fight Jon Jones, he’s going to have to come back.”

    For now, it remains unclear when or if Jones will return to the Octagon. But if Askren’s prediction is correct, fans may wait a long time.

  • Demetrious Johnson & Ben Askren Agree ‘Everybody Won’ In UFC-ONE Championship Trade

    Demetrious Johnson & Ben Askren Agree ‘Everybody Won’ In UFC-ONE Championship Trade

    In October of 2018, the MMA world was left stunned by a first of it’s kind trade that saw two big names in the sport switch promotions. The UFC gained the trash-talking and controversial Ben Askren with the promotion’s former flyweight champion Demetrious Johnson going the other way and joining ONE Championship.

    From a basic view, it appears that ONE got the better of the deal. “Mighty Mouse” still had years of elite level competition in him after fighting for the last time in 2023 and during his time in the promotion, he produced some of their biggest moments, was a great ambassador for them and remained one of the greatest to ever do it.

    However, though Askren would only fight three times inside the Octagon, he created a lot of interest for his two fights against Robbie Lawler and Jorge Masvidal in particular and though Johnson was loved by hardcore fans, he didn’t have that same draw that bringing Askren in created, even if it did only last a short time.

    During a recent episode of Johnson’s MightyCast, he was joined by Askren as the two men spoke about the details of the trade and the time they spent in both promotions. The flyweight GOAT started off by outlining his thoughts on how it all played out which Askren quickly agreed with.

    “My standpoint, I said everybody won. I got to go to ONE Championship, make good money. You got to come to UFC, get the opportunity to fight and see if you can do it there.”

    With Johnson referencing those big fights and moments that Askren created during his time in the UFC, “Funky” then responded by talking about how ONE didn’t lose any of the interest that Askren brought to the table because at that point, he was already retired unless an opportunity like the UFC landed on his table.

    “I mean ONE Championship, the thing that was golden for them is like I wasn’t gonna fight. I was done. If you stay in UFC, I’m assuming you’re going to continue to fight at least for a while until you don’t enjoy it enough to be done and in ONE Championship, I was legit done. I wasn’t fighting anymore and so they essentially sold an asset that was off market and you had a five-year run.”

  • Ben Askren Not Shocked By Dana White’s Bashing Of Francis Ngannou: ‘When He Can’t Get What He Wants…’ 

    Ben Askren Not Shocked By Dana White’s Bashing Of Francis Ngannou: ‘When He Can’t Get What He Wants…’ 

    Former Bellator and ONE Championship titleholder Ben Askren can relate to Francis Ngannou’s recent back and forth with UFC CEO Dana White.

    The aftermath of Ngannou’s successful return to mixed martial arts and PFL debut earlier this month has largely centered around the disparaging comments made by his ex-employer.

    White has claimed that he didn’t like and even wanted to release Ngannou — who went on to win the title and become one of the greatest heavyweights of all-time — following his loss to Derrick Lewis in 2018.

    The UFC boss has also accused the Cameroonian of being “all about the money” while simultaneously insisting that Ngannou turned down a more lucrative future in the Octagon. That’s in addition to saying he ran from Jon Jones despite “The Predator” calling to fight “Bones” in the same year he defeated Stipe Miocic to capture gold.

    Though White has usual set of backers in the community, many have poked holes in the UFC president’s remarks. That includes someone previously on the receiving end of such a barrage.

    During a recent episode of his Funky and the Champ YouTube show alongside Daniel Cormier, Askren likened Ngannou’s situation to his own when a potential UFC signing back in 2013 fell through.

    From PFL standouts Ngannou and Cris Cyborg to former fighters like himself and Randy Couture, “Funky” noted the multitude of examples when it comes to White berating athletes who go against him.

    “Dana spent years lying, saying I didn’t want to fight the best, I didn’t want challenges, I was running away, and that couldn’t have been further from the truth,” Askren said. “So, it sucked to have this guy – it’s essentially slander, saying things about me that I knew weren’t true. Dana has this part of his personality when he can’t get what he wants, and in that case, he didn’t offer me a contract, so he kind of got what he wanted. But then I think because I was continuing to have success and people were continuing to follow me, he wanted me off in a dark corner where everyone ignored me or something.

    “He’s done the same thing with [Cris] Cyborg, I believe Randy Couture had a similar experience, obviously now Francis. If I thought really hard I could probably think of some other ones. But there’s this weird part of Dana’s personality where, if he doesn’t get exactly what he wants, he just starts crapping on people,” Askren continued. “And because he has a big microphone and because he’s generally very truthful and generally correct, people just believe him. So I had to deal with many years of Dana telling lies about me that were very harmful to me, that he had no reason or basis for doing.”

    In this instance, Ngannou has had plenty of support from the MMA masses. A number of fans and media members have called White out for his recent remarks and accused him of contradictory statements regarding “The Predator.”

    The Cameroonian himself doesn’t appear fazed. In addition to securing the contractual terms he was after away from the UFC, Ngannou has also been able to fulfil his dream of competing against the best competition in boxing.

  • Demetrious Johnson Analyzes Whether UFC Or ONE Championship Got The Better Of His Trade

    Demetrious Johnson Analyzes Whether UFC Or ONE Championship Got The Better Of His Trade

    In October of 2018, a first of it’s kind deal would take place in the MMA landscape that would see two major names in the sport swap promotion. After losing his UFC flyweight title to Henry Cejudo, Demetrious Johnson was traded to ONE Championship.

    Former ONE welterweight champion Ben Askren went the other way in a switch that defined the final stages in the career of both men. Now that he is officially retired from MMA, announcing his decision at ONE 168 last month, Johnson reflected on this in a recent interview.

    “Mighty Mouse” would go on to fight seven-times in ONE Championship’s flyweight division where he won the flyweight World Grand Prix and became the champion, defending his title once to close out his trilogy with Adriano Moraes before retiring.

    He also competed in a first of it’s kind mixed-rules fight against Muay Thai superstar Rodtang Jitmuangnon at the promotion’s historic ONE X card back in 2022 which Johnson won via submission.

    Askren, on the other hand, fought just three times in the UFC but produced two incredibly memorable moments when he submitting Robbie Lawler and was knocked out by Jorge Masvidal.

    Johnson had always been underappreciated by the UFC in a lot of people’s eyes so despite the fact that he was still one of, if not, the best in the world, the move made sense for him at the time.

    During his recent appearance on The Ariel Helwani Show, Johnson gave his detailed thoughts on which party got the better of the trade. He makes the case for why in some ways, both the UFC and ONE Championship got what they wanted out of the trade.

    “I mean, it’s no doubt, you look at your boy, I was a f****** working horse. Working horse, the best in the world. Probably pound-for-pound if you didn’t count Jon Jones for skipping me and then, you know, I think Ben Askren was out, he was retired, and me and Ben Askren, we had him on the MightyCast, it’ll drop soon, and we talked about it. But I think when you look at like just money-wise, I think the UFC won because of how much more money they were able to generate and quote unquote from Dana White and those guys, I wasn’t making them any money. But, I think the sheer of just the f****** horse that ONE Championship got, I mean, if I wanted to, I could still fight.

    “I don’t think Ben Askren could still fight. I could still fight if I truly wanted to, he can’t, and you look at the fights I was able to produce, the knockouts, the buzz that I was able to produce for ONE Championship, I mean it’s easy clear that they got the better athlete, the better fighter, but when it comes down to the money aspect of it, they probably won. But it’s what are you looking for? Are you looking to generate more money or are you looking to have the best athletes in the world? You want to have the best athletes in the world? They got my black a**.”  

  • Ben Askren Calls Out UFC’s Hypocrisy In Not Booking Jon Jones vs. Tom Aspinall: ‘That’s What Boxing Does’

    Ben Askren Calls Out UFC’s Hypocrisy In Not Booking Jon Jones vs. Tom Aspinall: ‘That’s What Boxing Does’

    Former UFC fighter Ben Askren thinks Dana White’s comments on the issues in boxing make no sense while he refuses to make the biggest fight at heavyweight.

    One topic that has remained at the surface in 2024 is Jon Jones’ return from injury. His first title defense was originally set to come against Stipe Miocic at last November’s UFC 295 event at Madison Square Garden.

    After injury forced “Bones” out, an interim champion was crowned in his absence. Tom Aspinall’s triumph over Sergei Pavlovich added a second titleholder to the division and appeared to set up a unification showdown with Jones.

    But both the Rochester native and the UFC have remained firm on rescheduling the Miocic matchup in spite of Aspinall’s gold, and that appears to still be the case following the Brit’s successful defense against Curtis Blaydes last month in Manchester.

    Plenty in the community have spoken out against plans for Jones and Miocic to meet toward the end of this year, citing the heavyweight legend’s inactivity to insist that a clash with Aspinall is more intriguing.

    And according to one former fighter, the promotion’s rejection of that goes directly against the UFC CEO’s frequent comments about what sets his organization apart from boxing’s politics…

    Askren On Jones vs. Aspinall Delay: ‘The Fact That Dana’s Playing Along…’

    During the latest episode of his Funky and the Champ YouTube show alongside Daniel Cormier, Askren gave his latest take on the heavyweight title picture.

    “Funky,” a former Bellator and ONE Championship kingpin, pointed to the UFC’s claim of putting on the biggest and best fights in comparison to boxing, a sport that White has often criticized for its politics and failure to pair the top names against one another.

    By not staging Jones vs. Aspinall, however, Askren believes White and the UFC is abandoning that principle.

    “I almost feel like maybe Jon’s got some dirt on Dana or something,” Askren said. “Dana generally would not put up with this type of behavior. He would say — and this is what the UFC’s been founded on where boxing wasn’t — ‘we want the best guys to fight. We want to see who the actual best guy is. We don’t want to waste time with shenanigans. We don’t want to pad records…we don’t do that; that’s what boxing does. In the UFC, we put the best guys in there, we see who wins.’

    “The fact that Dana’s playing along and letting him and Stipe fight — Stipe’s gonna be close to four years (since his last fight). And you have this young interim champion — I mean, he’s a beast, he smashes people,” Askren continued. “The fact they won’t put them in there together — and then there’s this obvious (chance) that Jon beats Stipe and then says, ‘I’m done, I’m gone,’ and then we never get to see that. … Dana almost always presses these issues with the best guys.”

    After pausing his pursuit of Jones and focusing on retaining his belt and securing redemption against Blaydes on home soil, Aspinall turned his attention back to the all-time great following his quick triumph.

    And the interim champ has since vowed not to return unless undisputed status is on the line.

  • Ben Askren Says It Was ‘Clear’ Jiří Procházka Would Get His ‘Ass Kicked’ At UFC 303: ‘If You’re Starting To Worry About Witchcraft…’

    Ben Askren Says It Was ‘Clear’ Jiří Procházka Would Get His ‘Ass Kicked’ At UFC 303: ‘If You’re Starting To Worry About Witchcraft…’

    Former Bellator and ONE Championship titleholder Ben Askren believes Jiří Procházka’s violent setback at UFC 303 was inevitable owing to where his focus was during fight week.

    Procházka had his second attempt at regaining the UFC light heavyweight crown in the main event of the June 29 pay-per-view, which headlined International Fight Week in Las Vegas.

    Having previously had his pursuit of the belt he formerly owned stalled by Alex Pereira at Madison Square Garden last November, “BJP” was targeting redemption against “Poatan” at T-Mobile Arena.

    But the Czech star ultimately fell short once again, this time in a much more convincing and brutal fashion. After being dropped at the end of round one, Procházka was finished for good after being sent back to the canvas by a clean head kick in the second frame.

    While many were backing the challenger’s chances owing to the early success he had against “Poatan” in 2023, one former fighter was expecting the UFC 303 main event to play out as it did after seeing some of Procházka’s pre-fight remarks…

    Askren On Pereira vs. Procházka: ‘If You’re Worrying About Witchcraft, You’re Done’

    During a recent episode of his Funky and the Champ YouTube show alongside Daniel Cormier, Askren gave his take on Procházka’s suggestion that Pereira uses “spiritual things” and “magic” from Shamans to help him defeat his opponents.

    As soon as that reared its head, “Funky” believes it was game over for the challenger.

    “I hate it,” Askren said of Procházka’s focus on “magic” during fight week. “If you start talking like that, that is a clear sign you’re going to get your ass kicked. If you’re starting to worry about witchcraft, no, you’re done. You’re not going to win. I said it, I said, ‘Listen, if he’s worrying about witchcraft, this is going to be over quick. He’s going to get knocked out,’ and that’s what happened.

    “When you get that far, it’s a little too far. I said it, I hate this. I hate the fact he was thinking about this kind of stuff,” Askren continued. “(If you are), it’s probably over for you.”

    A video has subsequently emerged showing Pereira and Procházka embracing one another at the airport post-fight, with the champion clarifying his religion and beliefs to his defeated rival.

    “BJP” also made no mention of that pre-fight narrative in his first statement on social media. Instead, he took full responsibility for the defeat and insisted that he must evolve as a fighter or not compete again.

  • Ben Askren Agrees With Jorge Masvidal On Lia Thomas Controversy

    Former UFC fighter Ben Askren may still have a grudge towards his former rival Jorge Masvidal, but they agreed on a recent controversy.

    Transgender swimmer Lia Thomas has been at the center of an ongoing debate about whether or not transgender women should compete in female sports. Thomas recently became the first openly transgender athlete to win an NCAA Division I championship by winning the 500-yard-freestyle race.

    Masvidal and Askren had a heated buildup before their main card fight at UFC 239. Masvidal went on to bash Askren with a flying knee knockout that is widely considered one of the most memorable moments in recent UFC history.

    After Masvidal recently spoke out against transwomen competing in women’s sports, Askren appears to agree with that sentiment.

    “If you think Biological males should compete in female division then you don’t understand sports!” Askren said in a recent tweet.

    Thomas is planning on swimming in the upcoming 2024 Summer Olympics trials. While Thomas’ success is undeniable and unprecedented, many have debated whether or not it’s ethical and good for sports in general.

    Askren left MMA following losses to Masvidal and Demian Maia in 2019. He also lost to Jake Paul in a boxing match in April of last year.

    Masvidal is looking to get back on track after three straight losses in the Octagon. While Asken and he may never be cordial, it appears that they’re on the same page when it comes to the debate surrounding Thomas and trans athletes.

    Do you agree with Ben Askren and Jorge Masvidal?

  • Ben Askren On Covington’s Poirier Callout: “Huge Name, Easy Win”

    Former UFC welterweight Ben Askren has given his take on Colby Covington’s post-fight callout to lightweight star Dustin Poirier at UFC 272.

    Inside Las Vegas’ T-Mobile Arena on March 5, Covington accomplished a lot. Not only did he successfully rebound from a second loss to Kamaru Usman, but he also cemented his #1 spot at 170 pounds, emerged victorious in a bitter grudge match with former teammate Jorge Masvidal, and added a third name to his list of beaten ATT foes.

    As his push for a third crack at dethroning “The Nigerian Nightmare” gets underway, Covington has his next rival in mind. Unsurprisingly, it’s another with a built-in backstory that would allow for his usual level of insults and trash talk.

    In his Octagon interview with Joe Rogan, Covington made it clear he wanted Poirier next. At the post-fight press conference, “Chaos” hammered the point home by indulging in his usual personal attacks on the Louisianan and his family.

    In the aftermath, the fanbase has been largely split. While some have praised the move and called for Poirier to accept the fight, others, including Usman, who is arguably the man who matters most, have suggested a victory over Poirier would do nothing to further Covington’s cause in the welterweight division.

    Nevertheless, Covington will at least have the support of one fellow wrestling extraordinaire.

    Askren Credits Covington For “Great Callout”

    During an appearance on The MMA Hour with Ariel Helwani, Ben Askren, a former Bellator and ONE welterweight titleholder, gave his assessment of Covington’s decision to call out Poirier over any of his fellow 170-pound contenders.

    Praising it as a “great” move, “Funky” described a Poirier fight as one that would generate high interest, but would also be low risk. For Askren, that should always be the goal when targeting opponents.

    “Great callout. Because it’s a fight that—obviously, (from) in the gym, he probably knows he’s really, really likely to win,” said Askren. “Poirier is probably a top-10 name in the UFC at this point given the fact that he’s beaten McGregor twice. So, huge name, easy win. You can’t ask for anything better than that, right?

    “If Dustin loses, he kind of looks like a chicken. Colby also can’t call anyone out above him because he’s had two shots at Marty (Usman), so it’s gonna take him a while to get that shot,” added Askren. “Dana said he can get that shot again, but it’s gonna take a little bit; it’s not gonna happen right away. So it’s like, who else you gonna call out?”

    When asked whether Covington would be better served requesting the victor of UFC 273’s Gilbert Burns vs. Khamzat Chimaev clash, Askren noted that a contest against either man, especially a victorious “Borz,” would pose a lot more risk for the former interim champion.

    “Big attention, easy win, that’s what you want. Neither one of those guys, yet, is as popular as Poirier… It’s also really risky (fighting Chimaev if he beats Burns). Burns is good. So, if he beats Burns, he’s really good, too. I think Covington went the right way with that one,” Askren concluded.

    As Covington’s tear through his group of former ATT teammates continues, Poirier is in his crosshairs. However, while “The Diamond” maintains that “it’s on sight” if he sees the controversial welterweight, he’s consistently asserted that a collision inside the Octagon is never going to happen.

    With that in mind, Covington’s post-fight callout doesn’t seem likely to bear the fruits “Chaos” was hoping for. Therefore, the 34-year-old may need to turn his attention to Burns vs. Chimaev after all.

    Do you agree with Ben Askren? Was Dustin Poirier the smart callout for Colby Covington to make?

  • Askren Slams Masvidal For UFC 272: You Had 25 Mins To Do Something

    Former UFC, Bellator, and ONE welterweight Ben Askren has criticized Jorge Masvidal’s conduct following his loss to Colby Covington at UFC 272.

    At last weekend’s pay-per-view, one of the promotion’s long-awaited grudge matches took center stage. As former teammates, roommates, and friends, and now bitter rivals, the lead-up to the Las Vegas held event was always going to be a fiery affair.

    That certainly turned out to be true, with a host of insults and jibes flying back and forth during fight week, at the press conference, and even during the five-round contest.

    After 25 minutes of action, Covington, who had dominated much of the contest, was awarded a comfortable unanimous decision victory.

    While “Chaos” had put his previous feud versus reigning welterweight king Kamaru Usman to bed following their fight last November with a show of respect, that certainly wasn’t the case at UFC 272.

    After the final horn, security had to swarm the cage as the pair continued their exchanges. That certainly confused Askren, a former opponent of Masvidal, who questioned why “Gamebred” searched for a scrap after having 25 minutes to do what he wanted to Covington.

    “It was kinda what we expected. The thing that I get annoyed about is Jorge wants to fight him after the fight, and it’s like, listen, you just had 25 minutes to do almost anything you want,” Askren pointed out during an appearance on The MMA Hour. “You can’t eye gauge and bite, you know, we’ve got a couple rules, but not a lot. So you could do whatever you wanted for 25 minutes, and now you’re gonna act like you want more? Hey, you had 25 minutes, freakin’ do it to him.”

    UFC 272 Wasn’t The Only Criticism Askren Sent Masvidal’s Way…

    While Masvidal’s defeat and post-fight antics drew the brunt of Askren’s criticism, “Funky” left some in the tank for later.

    This time, the focus was on a new piece of ink Masvidal debuted during fight week. The tattoo is of the Miami native’s infamous flying knee knockout of Askren back in 2019. The KO, which remains the fastest in UFC history, is arguably what truly shot Masvidal into stardom.

    Discussing the tattoo he had a part in laying the foundations for, Askren branded Masvidal’s latest ink as “terrible.”

    “Ha, it’s terrible. Like, oh, God. It just looks like crap,” said Askren. “That’s something a teenager gets and you’re like, ‘Oh shit, I thought that was gonna look a lot better. I thought this was gonna be really badass, but it looks kinda dopey.’ You’d think (because) he’s rich, he could go get the best tattoo artist in the place.”

    Askren also pointed out that Masvidal’s decision to immortalize the moment on his body perhaps signifies how important it was in taking his career to the next level.

    “I think it’s semi-telling how important that singular moment was to his career, and he knows it,” claimed Askren. “And he tattooed it on his body because it was that important to him.”

    Do you agree with Ben Askren’s takes on Jorge Masvidal’s post-fight attitude at UFC 272 and new piece of ink?

  • Archives: Ben Askren Says Colby Covington Is A Real-Life Dipsh*t (2020)

    The following article was published on this day two years ago. It is presented to you in its original, unaltered form, courtesy of The MMA News Archives.

    On This Day Two Years Ago…

    [ORIGINALLY PUBLISHED MARCH 13, 2020, 9:17 PM]

    AUTHOR: FERNANDO QUILES JR.

    HEADLINE: Ben Askren Says Colby Covington Is A Real-Life Dipsh*t

    Ben Askren says shtick or not, Colby Covington is a “dipsh*t.”

    Askren and Covington have traded barbs in the past. Askren may be retired but he still isn’t done firing verbal shots towards “Chaos.” While “Funky” doesn’t deny Covington’s abilities inside the Octagon, he does think the former interim UFC welterweight champion has alienated himself from many.

    Askren Calls Covington A ‘Dipsh*t’ & ‘Terrible Person’

    Jordan Ellis of LowKickMMA.com spoke to Askren, who made it clear that he has no respect for Covington as a person.

    “Well, I think he’s a terrible person. I think that’s pretty well established, kinda anywhere he’s been people can’t stand him. I think that’s now being established at American Top Team and as a fighter. Well he’s pretty good. He almost won a world title. He does a pretty good job at promoting himself. Although, you know, some people think its an act, but it’s not an act. He’s really that much of a dipshit in real life.”

    It’s no secret that Covington’s MAGA shtick has drawn the ire of many. While some believe it’s nothing more than a gimmick, clearly Askren isn’t of that belief. What’s interesting is that Askren also leans right when it comes to politics but he just doesn’t like Covington.

    Covington was last seen in action back in Dec. 2019. He challenged Kamaru Usman for the UFC welterweight championship. The bout was highly contested and earned MMA News’ 2019 Fight of the Year award. Usman ended up winning the fight via fifth-round TKO.

    As for Askren, he retired from the sport of MMA following a submission loss to Demian Maia. Askren wrapped up his pro MMA career having held Bellator and ONE Championship gold. He went 1-2 under the UFC banner.

    Do you think Colby Covington is just playing up his shtick or is he being authentic?

  • (Archives) Masvidal Blasts “Weasel” Ben Askren: Have Some Pride (2019)

    Before one of the most iconic knockouts in UFC history at UFC 239, Jorge Masvidal was already talking trash to Ben Askren. In fact, the following article was published before Masvidal and Askren were even booked to fight one another. As alluded to, we know how this story ends. But here is a walk back to one of the first chapters of how the Masvidal/Askren feud began.

    The following article was published on this day three years ago. It is presented to you in its original, unaltered form, courtesy of The MMA News Archives.

    On This Day Three Years Ago…

    [ORIGINALLY PUBLISHED MARCH 13, 2019, 4:30 PM]

    Jorge Masvidal sent a harsh message to Ben Askren following Askren’s controversial victory at UFC 235.

    Jorge Masvidal will be headlining UFC London in three days when he takes on Darren Till from the 02 Arena in London, England. Ben Askren is already on record in saying he would like the winner of that bout after picking up a victory over Robbie Lawler at UFC 235, but Jorge Masvidal feels that Askren’s fleet of foot and fleet of mouth after the controversial victory calls into question Askren’s manhood, confidence, and respect:

    “He’s a little groupie, man,” Masvidal told MMAjunkie of Askren. “He’s calling my name. Who are you? Herb Dean gifted you a win, and you’re calling people out? Give Robbie Lawler the respect you owe.

    “As a man, as a fighter, having pride in what I do, I choke somebody out, or I think choke them out, but when I see the replay and see the guy put the thumbs up, in my head, I would say, ‘Man, I didn’t choke this guy out,’” Masvidal said. “And as a man, having pride, I would say, ‘Let’s do it again,’ especially after he (expletive) decapitated me on the slam, busted up my face. ‘Let’s do it again,’ because I definitely didn’t choke you out. Because I’ve never seen nobody go to sleep like this. That’s the first.

    “But that’s how much of a weasel and coward he is. No, no, I’m gone already. I wouldn’t dare repeat that route again. That just shows you his character. He’s a (expletive).”

    Robbie Lawler and Dana White have both called for a rematch of the Askren/Lawler bout, while Askren has been quite clear about where he stands as well, a stance that has generated repulsion and contempt from the man who may end up being Ben Askren’s next opponent, Jorge “Gamebred” Masvidal.

    Do you agree with Jorge Masvidal’s harsh assessment of Ben Askren’s character?

  • ATT Founder: The Best UFC 272 Outcome For Us Is Masvidal/Askren 2

    American Top Team founder Dan Lambert says the best outcome for his gym at UFC 272 would be a replica of Jorge Masvidal’s knockout of Ben Askren in 2019.

    While ATT’s interest in this weekend’s pay-per-view recently increased with the late-notice addition of Brazil’s Renato Moicano to the card, the gym’s main attention will no doubt be on the headlining bout, which pits current influential member Masvidal against the ousted Colby Covington.

    https://www.instagram.com/p/CahnVsRrfXi/

    While Covington’s individual history training and living with Masvidal has provided the main narrative heading into the event, “Gamebred” isn’t the only member of the ATT roster that “Chaos” got on the wrong side of during his time at the Coconut Creek, Florida-based facility.

    With that in mind, Dan Lambert, who founded the gym in 2001, is after a fast and emphatic victory for his man in Las Vegas’ T-Mobile Arena this Saturday.

    Lambert: Quick KO For Masvidal Would Be “Satisfying” For ATT

    During a recent interview with ESPN MMA’s Marc Raimondi, Lambert discussed the upcoming grudge match between one of his gym’s current fighters and perhaps the most notable former athlete, who he even used to manage.

    Given Covington’s history with ATT, and feuds with the likes of Dustin Poirier and Joanna Jędrzejczyk, Lambert believes the best-case scenario for his gym would be a “satisfying” early finish, perhaps similar to the downfall of a certain “funky” former welterweight in 2019.

    “I’d be lying if I said this was just another fight. We’ve got fights every week. This is a monstrous fight…You throw the personal side into it and it’s a monstrous fight,” said Lambert. “And I can’t help but look at what a fight like this means to the individual at our gym. This is a big fight. Jorge wins this fight, his career goes a certain way. Jorge loses this fight, it’s gonna go another way.

    “Best outcome for us (ATT) would be Masvidal/Askren 2. That would be pretty satisfying for a lot of people at this gym,” Lambert continued. “It didn’t really seem realistic against somebody as good as Ben Askren. But I think Colby is a whole other level than that. Outside of Usman, Colby is gonna be favorited against everybody. So, yeah, it’s probably an unrealistic expectation to have a short fight like that. But I think it’s also an unrealistic expectation to think that Colby is gonna go in there and dominate Jorge.”

    The source of Masvidal’s current stardom perhaps largely derived from one flying knee. At UFC 239 in July 2019, the Miami native was matched up with Ben Askren, who, at the time, boasted an unblemished 19-0 record and had emerged victorious in his promotional debut against Robbie Lawler four months prior.

    In one of the most memorable moments in UFC history, Masvidal rendered Askren unconscious after just five seconds with a brutal flying knee, marking the fastest KO in the promotion’s history.

    https://www.instagram.com/p/CahuQothlft/

    Now set to face another decorated wrestler, will “Gamebred” bring the acrobatic maneuver back out of his toolbox? Only time will tell.

    Do you think Jorge Masvidal can replicate his quick victory over Ben Askren against Colby Covington at UFC 272?

  • Ben Askren and Jamahal Hill Get Into Twitter Spat Over Walker Trolls

    Jamahal Hill has come to Johnny Walker’s defense against Ben Askren.

    Following his win at UFC Vegas 48, Jamahal Hill has been riding high. His opponent, Johnny Walker, however, has not been. Walker has been taking many shots from internet trolls regarding his loss and memes of his knockout have been circulating. Walker and his fiancée both issued statements asking fans to leave them alone and to address the hardships that come after a public loss like Walker experienced.

    Fighters being trolled is not new, unfortunately. Many times when a fighter loses via knockout, the image of them on the Octagon floor becomes viral. One man who knows this feeling well is Ben Askren. He became the subject of such ridicule when he lost to Jorge Masvidal. Now, he has taken to Twitter himself to mock Walker and his response to the situation.

    “We all know what we signed up for. Fighters need to quit being little babies about people making fun of them on Twitter,” Askren wrote.

    Jamahal Hill Claps Back At Askren

    This message by Askren was following Hill coming to the defense of Walker. He put out his own message to fans warning them about the effects of their words and asking people to be kind. Askren did not embrace this message, instead took to mocking it instead.

    To this end, Hill did not back down. He shot back at Askren in a series of his own Tweets.

    “If you knew what u signed up for why did u retire after a year in the ufc? U couldn’t handle the heat and ran!!” Hill wrote. “I don’t need fans to love me, I love me some me!! But your a b–ch if your ok with ppl harassing your family. I would expect u to understand a alphas mind!!”

    These two continue to go back and forth. Askren is no longer fighting, and it is unlikely that this feud will amount to anything, but Hill has been relentless in his attack on Askren.

    What do you think of this spat between Ben Askren and Jamahal Hill?

  • Ben Askren Predicts Hypothetical Anderson Silva vs. Jake Paul Matchup

    Ben Askren is lending his thoughts on a potential bout between Jake Paul and Anderson Silva.

    Ben Askren has taken a step back from competing in combat sports. His short stint in boxing led to a loss at the hands of Jake Paul, now he is giving his thoughts on Paul’s most recent win and a potential matchup that could give Paul some trouble.

    Askren spent most of his MMA days fighting for Bellator and ONE Championship in Japan. When he finally got his chance in the UFC, unfortunately, it did not go his way. With one win in the UFC, followed by being made into a meme by Jorge Masvidal, Askren decided to try his hand at boxing.

    Askren was the first former MMA fighter to challenge Paul inside the squared circle and lost. Since then, Paul’s targeting of MMA fighters is becoming his signature move in boxing. He has been rumored to want a fight with former UFC champion Anderson Silva. Although this bout is far from confirmed, Askren is hoping that Silva can do what no other man has done yet, stop Paul in the ring.

    “I thought Tyron [Woodley] was going to. The first bout was obviously really competitive,” Askren told MMA Island. “Anderson Silva looked great in his one boxing match he did. It was against a guy who had a significant amount of boxing experience, so I would say yeah, I would think so. If Anderson can’t do it, then shit, Jake Paul is pretty damn good.”

    Silva has had four professional boxing fights since retiring from the UFC. He has won his last three bouts, including the win Askren referenced that came over Julio Cesar Chavez Jr. and most recently over fellow former UFC fighter Tito Ortiz. Silva has expressed interest in taking on Paul, but nothing has materialized on that fight being made as of this writing.

    Do you think Anderson Silva would be able to beat Jake Paul in the boxing ring?

  • Askren Believes Covington Fight Is Crucial For Masvidal’s Popularity

    Ben Askren doesn’t agree with Chael Sonnen that UFC 272 is a career-ending fight per se, but he knows Jorge Masvidal needs to defeat Colby Covington to regain his popularity.

    Masvidal became a massive star in 2019 after knocking out Darren Till in London. He followed that up with a five-second flying knee KO over Ben Askren and then TKO’d Nate Diaz to become the BMF champ. Since then, however, he has suffered two-straight losses to Kamaru Usman for the belt and will now headline UFC 272 opposite Covington.

    It’s a crucial fight, as the two are bitter rivals and Sonnen has said if “Gamebred” loses, it would be career-ending. Yet, for Askren, he doesn’t think it would end his career if he loses, but it would derail his hype and popularity a ton.

    “Well Chael understands the fight business better than almost anyone so generally when he says things, there’s a lot of validity to it,” Askren said to MMA Island about Masvidal. “And so I would not say it’s a career-ender, but unfortunately, people will take offense to this, but I made him a huge star, right? It was at my expense. I don’t want to say he was a nobody before that, but he was kind of like a moderately popular fighter who kind of had maybe a hardcore following but wasn’t known to a broader audience and then the event with me happened, unfortunately, and he became let’s say, one of the top-five stars in the sport and then obviously he parlayed that with the Nate Diaz fight. 

    Jorge Masvidal, Colby Covington
    USA Today and Sports Illustrated

    “Nate Diaz is not the toughest opponent at welterweight but then once he got past that fight, the Usman fights were pretty non-competitive and he hasn’t really fought anyone else in the upper-echelon of that division,” Askren continued about Masvidal. “So Colby is another guy, the upper echelon of the division, and if he loses to him, I think it probably knocks his popularity a couple of levels and he’s got to go low. Now can he regain the popularity on some level? Possibly.”

    As both Askren and Sonnen say, UFC 272 will be a massive fight for Jorge Masvidal’s star power.

    Do you think UFC 272 is a career-ending fight for Jorge Masvidal if he loses?