Ben Askren News

Mike Pendleton - June 19, 2019

In a fight that likely has some title implications in the welterweight division, Jorge Masvidal has a personal goal for his UFC 239 opponent, Ben Askren. Since his arrival into the UFC, “Funky” Ben Askren has gotten under the skin of a lot of fighters, especially in the welterweight division, but Masvidal isn’t here for any jokes or games. Askren is coming off a controversial win over Robbie Lawler at UFC 235, the first fight of his UFC career, after a long beef with Dana White kept him away from the promotion. During a recent interview with BJPenn.com Radio, Masvidal discussed his fight with Askren and said he’d like to break the wrestling specialist’s face “on a personal note.”

Tom Taylor - June 18, 2019

Former Bellator and ONE Championship welterweight titleholder Ben Askren is scheduled for his second UFC appearance at UFC 239 on July 6, where he’ll battle fellow contender Jorge Masvidal. It’s conceivable that the winner of this clash will get the next crack at UFC welterweight champion Kamaru Usman — though that would mean Colby Covington would have to be skipped over once again. Speaking to MMA Fighting recently, Ben Askren explained that he believes a win over Jorge Masvidal could very easily put him ahead of Covington in the welterweight contendership race.

Tom Taylor - June 12, 2019

On Wednesday, the stars of Bellator 222 took center stage in New York City for a pre-fight media day. Among those appearing were welterweight champion Rory MacDonald, bantamweight champion Darrion Caldwell, and main card fighter Dillon Danis. At one point during the days festivities, Dillon Danis swiped MacDonald and Caldwell’s Bellator titles and posed for a photo with both straps slung over his shoulders.

Christopher Taylor - June 3, 2019

Undefeated welterweight standout Ben Askren (19-0 MMA) took aim at former UFC lightweight title challenger Nate Diaz on Monday afternoon. The former Bellator and ONE Champion, Askren, roasted the younger Diaz brother over his professional record as a lightweight.

Drake Riggs - May 9, 2019

This past Monday night in New York City, a very special event was held in the world of wrestling. It was Beat the Streets 2019 and in the main event, we saw two of the sports’ all-time greatest competitors square off for the very first time. On one side, it was the ‘Funky’ undefeated former Bellator and ONE Championship welterweight champion, Ben Askren who has firmly established himself as one of the greatest wrestlers in MMA history.

Cole Shelton - May 9, 2019

Ben Askren and Jorge Masvidal will finally settle their feud at UFC 239, during International Fight Week. The two have gone back-and-forth on social media, trash-talking each other . It first started when Askren went to London to pick a fight against the winner of Darren Till vs. Jorge Masvidal. Now that the two are set to fight, the rivalry has only gotten more heated. Masvidal went on the Joe Rogan Experience and explained what he plans to do to Askren.

Tom Taylor - May 8, 2019

It’s been awhile since we’ve heard from former Bellator boss Bjorn Rebney. He’s been quiet ever since it was announced he’d be working with the seemingly defunct Mixed Martial Arts Athletes Association (MMAAA) in 2016. Apparently, however, the former Bellator chief has been in contact with former Bellator welterweight champ Ben Askren, who is now making waves in the UFC welterweight division.  Speaking on Ariel Helwani’s MMA Show on Monday, Askren divulged that he received a message from Rebney shortly after he submitted Robbie Lawler in his first UFC bout. 

Tom Taylor - May 7, 2019

On Monday night, UFC welterweight contender Ben Askren stepped onto the mats for a wrestling match with Jordan Burroughs. The bout topped the Beat the Streets 2019 charity event, which emanated the Hulu Theatre inside New York City’s hallowed Madison Square Garden. In the end, this charity wrestling match did not go well for Askren. The former ONE and Bellator champ was shut out by Burroughs, who won 11-0.

Tom Taylor - April 30, 2019

As the former ONE Championship and Bellator welterweight king, and one of the top contenders in the UFC welterweight division, Ben Askren has already accomplished some incredible things as a fighter. But what could he accomplish if he worked on the other side of the hurt business, as a promoter? He gave us a sense of how he’d handle that role on a recent episode of MMA Junkie Radio. Unsurprisingly, he says he’d work hard to treat the fighters better.

Chris Taylor - April 13, 2019

Kevin Lee will make his welterweight debut against Rafael dos Anjos next month and if he proves victorious it could setup a ‘fun fight’ with Ben Askren. “The Motown Phenom” was asked about a future fight with the former Bellator and ONE Champion (Askren) during yeaterday’s UFC Press Conference.

Tom Taylor - April 11, 2019

One of the most anticipated features of the UFC 235 bill was a welterweight showdown between former UFC champ Robbie Lawler and former ONE and Bellator champ Ben Askren. Regrettably, this bout ended in controversy. Mid-way through the first round, Askren locked up a bulldog choke that appeared to lull Lawler to sleep. After referee Herb Dean stopped the action, however, Lawler protested, and the replay revealed that he might not have actually gone out.

Tom Taylor - April 2, 2019

Ben Askren was one of several guest fighters in attendance for the recent UFC London card, which was topped by a welterweight scrap between Jorge Masvidal and Darren Till. Apparently, Askren had a bit of a tense run-in with Masvidal during his time in London. The former ONE and Bellator champ compared this run-in with Masvidal to his recent backstage encounter with Kamaru Usman (who he calls ‘Marty.’)

Tom Taylor - March 29, 2019

Earlier this week, Jorge Masvidal released a fiery video, targeting both Ben Askren and Leon Edwards. https://www.instagram.com/p/Bvj1SrblS10/ “Hello everybody, I’m back stateside, enjoying my little vacation. And I’m coming back and man, I’ve got so much groupie love. I can’t believe it,” Masvidal said (transcript via MMAFighting). “I got these two little s***s, you might know ‘em or you might not. One’s from England, one’s from some suburb where it’s — I don’t know, I don’t give a f*ck — calling me out. One’s not in the top-10 and the other that is hasn’t got a victory in the UFC. Didn’t make the dude tap — Robbie Lawler — and didn’t put him to sleep, but you think you have a win in the UFC. Who are you fooling?

Cole Shelton - March 28, 2019

UFC welterweight standout Jorge Masvidal has some options for his next fight. After knocking out Darren Till two weekends ago, both Ben Askren and Leon Edwards have been calling for a fight with “Gamebred”.

Drake Riggs - March 26, 2019

Despite rumors this morning is sounds like @GamebredFighter is being a chicken! pic.twitter.com/7ptA3lTuh5 — Funky (@Benaskren) March 26, 2019

Chris Taylor - March 23, 2019

Ben Askren travelled to London this past weekend with intentions of confronting former UFC welterweight title challenger Darren Till. The rivals, who have gone back and forth on social media for months, actually had a brief encounter at the UFC London weigh-ins.

Tom Taylor - March 21, 2019

UFC President Dana White and former ONE and Bellator champ Ben Askren haven’t always had the best relationship. In fact, they’ve seem to outright loathe each other at various points in the past. Now that Ben Askren is firmly embedded as a member of the UFC welterweight top-15, however, Dana White seems to be changing his tune.

Cole Shelton - March 21, 2019

A common complaint UFC fans have is that there aren’t many huge MMA stars at the moment. It’s a recurring complaint, with Ronda Rousey leaving the spot, Brock Lesnar in the WWE and Conor McGregor fighting so infrequently. However, UFC President Dana White does not agree with these claims. Rather, he says there is a ton of up and coming prospects that will soon turn into stars.