Ben Askren and Mike Perry trade trash talk over potential fight

On Wednesday afternoon, ESPN reported that the UFC and Singapore’s ONE Championship are closing in on a history-making fighter trade. This potential trade would see ONE Championship send its former welterweight champion Ben Askren to the UFC, and the UFC send its former flyweight champion Demetrious Johnson to the Singapore-based promotion.

It did not take long for the MMA community to begin imagining matchups for both fighters in their new potential homes. Ben Askren himself, however, feels like the UFC welterweight division has gone silent since the news of his possible arrival surfaced.

Notice not one of these WW's is saying my name right now. They think if they hide their heads in the sand some other poor lamb will be taken for slaughter.

— Funky (@Benaskren) October 25, 2018

“Notice not one of these WW’s is saying my name right now,” Ben Askren said on Twitter. “They think if they hide their heads in the sand some other poor lamb will be taken for slaughter.’

While Askren feels he’s already being ducked by the UFC’s top welterweights, fan favorite welterweight knockout artist “Platinum” Mike Perry wants the former ONE and Bellator champ to know he’s game — even though he’s scheduled for a fight with Donald “Cowboy” Cerrone.

I was waiting to beat @Cowboycerrone first but I threw my name out there on insta and I see him saying nobody is saying anything so let it be known @Benaskren gonna need some aspirin if I can get my name on the contract with him. That wrestling shit don’t scare me bitch

— Platinum Mike Perry (@PlatinumPerry) October 25, 2018

“I was waiting to beat [Donald Cerrone] first, but I threw my name out there on Insta and I see him saying nobody is saying anything so let it be known [Ben Askren] gonna need some aspirin if I can get my name on the contract with him. That wrestling shit don’t scare me bitch.”

Although Askren admitted that he appreciates Perry’s courage, he was quick to shut this callout down with a pretty savage response.

Well I appreciate you being the only one with the courage Mike, but let’s be real: you suck, you know you aren’t getting the shot. https://t.co/xMAV4jpZmg

— Funky (@Benaskren) October 25, 2018

“Well I appreciate you being the only one with the courage Mike, but let’s be real: you suck, you know you aren’t getting the shot,” Askren said.

This prompted Mike Perry to fire back, calling into the question the level of competition Ben Askren has faced, and reminding him that he trains with some of the best in the world at JacksonWink MMA. 

Idk who you beat in @ONEChampionship @Benaskren , you had to been bigger than all them lil Asians. I been tussling with the biggest and baddest. @JacareMMA @JonnyBones @DiegoSanchezUFC @brownbearC @Jsmoove_Xcel #JiuJitsu #Masterminds

— Platinum Mike Perry (@PlatinumPerry) October 25, 2018

“Idk who you beat in [ONE Championship, Ben Askren], you had to been bigger than all them lil Asians,” Perry said. “I been tussling with the biggest and baddest.”

Does a fight between Ben Askren and Mike Perry interest you? Who do you think would come out on top?

This article first appeared on BJPENN.COM on 10/25/2018.