Ben Askren News
Dana White assures he doesn't hate Ben Askren: 'This was my idea'
Tom Taylor - November 4, 2018
Given how long it took for Ben Askren, inarguably one of the best welterweights in the world, to sign with the UFC, you would not be faulted for thinking that the promotion’s brass were not fans of his. In fact, given the way UFC President Dana White has previously spoken about Askren, it’d be understandable if you thought he hated the welterweight star outright. Speaking at the post-fight press conference for UFC 230, which Ben Askren attended, Dana White assured this is not the case. In fact, Dana White says he came up with the deal that ultimately brought Askren to the UFC in exchange for Demetrious Johnson.
Report | Two huge welterweight contender bouts in the works for early 2019
Tom Taylor - November 4, 2018
From the sounds of it, the first quarter of 2019 is going to be a busy stretch for the UFC welterweight division. According to BJPENN.COM’s Chris Taylor, the UFC is currently working on a pair of huge welterweight matchups for the New Year. The first is expected to pit former UFC welterweight champion Robbie Lawler against two-time welterweight title challenger Stephen “Wonderboy” Thompson. The second will see former ONE and Bellator welterweight kingpin Ben Askren make his Octagon debut opposite recent title challenger Darren Till. This just in! Per multiple sources close to the situation, the UFC is targeting the following two welterweight bouts for early 2019:Stephen Thompson vs Robbie Lawler and Ben Askren vs Darren Till. Neither fight has been officially signed but that is the intention.
Ben Askren says there are only two suitable opponents for his UFC debut
Christopher Taylor - November 4, 2018
Former Bellator and ONE Championship title holder Ben Askren will make his UFC debut in 2019 and claims there are only two suitable opponents for his first fight with the promotion. Ben Askren joined the ESPN crew during last night’s UFC 230 broadcast where he discussed being traded to the UFC and who he will likely square off with in his first octagon appearance.
Ben Askren creates 'Death List' of five opponents he wants to fight in UFC
Cole Shelton - November 4, 2018
Ever since the UFC and ONE Championship agreed to the historic trade that sent Demetrious Johnson to ONE and Ben Askren to the UFC, the latter has been calling out almost everyone. Askren is expected to face a top-five welterweight in his debut according to UFC President Dana White. Who that will be or when he will debut, however, remains a mystery.
Joe Rogan discusses Ben Askren joining the UFC: "Everybody’s in trouble"
Christopher Taylor - November 2, 2018
UFC color commentator Joe Rogan believes former Bellator and ONE Championship title holder Ben Askren will be giving a lot of fighters problems in the UFC. Askren (18-0 MMA) was recently dealt from ONE Championship to the UFC in return for former flyweight kingpin Demetrious Johnson.
UFC announces March stop in London — but will they bring Ben Askren?
Tom Taylor - November 2, 2018
The UFC is headed back to London, England’s O2 Arena on Saturday, March 16. The promotion announced this news on Thursday. “Ever since our first event in London in 2002, the city has always been a special location for the UFC. The fans here are some of the most passionate in the world and always turn up in their numbers to show their support,” UFC Senior Vice President, International and Content, David Shaw said in an official release (via MMA Mania). “The UK is home to many of our world class mixed martial artists and its fantastic to see the sport continue to go from strength to strength here. It’s going to be a great night of action.”
Ben Askren lectures Sijara Eubanks for UFC 230 weigh-in miss: 'Time to grow up'
Tom Taylor - November 2, 2018
For a fleeting moment, Sijara Eubanks was expected to battle Valentina Shevchenko for the UFC women’s flyweight title in the main event of UFC 230, which goes down in New York City this Saturday night. After a wave of fan backlash, however, the UFC backtracked on this plan, and booked a heavyweight title fight between Daniel Cormier and Derrick Lewis to headline the card. As you can probably imagine, this change didn’t go over well with Eubanks. Luckily, the UFC was able to keep her on the card, relocating her to an undercard scrap with Roxanne Modafferi.
Ben Askren picks Darren Till for debut opponent, is willing to fight in London
Tom Taylor - November 1, 2018
Over the last few days, former Bellator and ONE Championship welterweight king Ben Askren has taken numerous shots at recent UFC welterweight title challenger Darren Till on social media, suggesting that he’d like to fight the Brit in his anticipated UFC debut. Speaking on a recent episode of his Rudis Wrestling podcast, Askren made it official, naming Daren Till as his choice opponent for his debut, and divulging that he’d even be willing to fight the Brit on his home turf.
ONE CEO Chatri Sityodtong makes bold prediction for Ben Askren's run in the UFC
Tom Taylor - October 30, 2018
Former ONE Championship welterweight titleholder Ben Askren is now headed to the UFC — though the promotion has not officially announced his arrival just yet. Askren’s long-awaited migration to the Octagon was made possible by a history-making trade between ONE and the UFC that saw the UFC cough up its former flyweight champ Demetrious Johnson in exchange for the former ONE welterweight king.
Ben Askren pushes UFC to officially announce signing, says promotion is acting 'embarrassed'
Tom Taylor - October 30, 2018
The history-making trade is a done deal. Former UFC flyweight champion Demetrious Johnson has been sent to ONE Championship in exchange for former ONE welterweight champ Ben Askren. Strangely, however, the UFC has still not officially announced the signing of Ben Askren. This has the former ONE welterweight champ wondering if the promotion is embarrassed.
Ben Askren ready to provide closure on his career, 'We don't know if I'm as good as I say I am.'
Drake Riggs - October 30, 2018
The biggest knock on Ben Askren throughout his dominant MMA career has been that we haven’t seen him face the very best and he realizes that. But now we’re going to get too as the former ONE Championship and Bellator welterweight king is finally on his way to the UFC.
Dana White says Ben Askren will get a top 5 welterweight for his debut
Drake Riggs - October 29, 2018
Believe it or not, it has happened. Former Bellator and ONE Championship welterweight king Ben Askren has finally made his way to the UFC. Now that he has made it, he’ll need someone to make his debut against. When asked about who Askren will fight first, UFC president Dana White responded to TMZ with the following.
Done Deal! Ben Askren joins the UFC in historic trade for Demetrious Johnson!
Chris Taylor - October 27, 2018
It is officially a done deal! Former ONE Champion and Bellator welterweight title holder Ben Askren has joined the UFC roster. A historic trade involving ONE Championship sending Ben Askren to the UFC in exchange for former flyweight kingpin Demetrious Johnson was confirmed by ESPN’s Ariel Helwani.
Jon Jones manager has an interesting exchange with Ben Askren on Twitter
Chris Taylor - October 26, 2018
Ben Askren is currently in the process of being traded from ONE Championship to the UFC in exchange for former flyweight kingpin Demetrious Johnson. The historic trade, which is expected to be finalized very soon, could have a significant impact on the sport and its athletes moving forward.
Ben Askren goes after Conor McGregor on Twitter
Tom Taylor - October 26, 2018
Since news of his potential move to the UFC broke, former ONE and Bellator welterweight champion Ben Askren has called out many of the UFC’s top welterweights. That said, he did not initially make a callout of former UFC lightweight and featherweight champion Conor McGregor, who is far and away the biggest star in MMA history. On Friday morning, that changed.
Tyron Woodley says Ben Askren would "wreck" Georges St-Pierre and Khabib Nurmagomedov
Christopher Taylor - October 25, 2018
UFC welterweight champ Tyron Woodley believes his friend and teammate Ben Askren would easily defeat the likes of Khabib Nurmagomedov and Georges St-Pierre. The current UFC welterweight champion, Woodley, has known the former ONE Championship and Bellator welterweight title holder, Askren, for a long time. The pair originally wrestled together at University of Missouri, this before once again linking up to train under legendary striking coach Duke Roufus in Milwaukee.
Darren Till claps back at 'hillbilly' Ben Askren
Tom Taylor - October 25, 2018
At long last, it seems that former ONE and Bellator welterweight champion Ben Askren could be headed to the UFC. While it’s not official just yet, he’s already rattling the cages of many of the UFC’s top welterweights. One of the first UFC welterweights that Ben Askren set his sights on was Darren Till, who recently came up short in a title fight with Askren’s training partner Tyron Woodley.
Ben Askren rips Jorge Masvidal, Darren Till and Alan Jouban, says he'll fight every month if he has to
Tom Taylor - October 25, 2018
Ben Askren’s move to the UFC is not even official yet, and he’s already put half of the welterweight division on notice While the former ONE and Bellator welterweight champ has already stated that UFC interim welterweight champion Colby Covington could be the first UFC fighter on his hit list, he’s also recently set his sights on recent welterweight title challenger Darren Till, and long-time top-10 staple Jorge Masvidal.