Ben Askren has wasted no time in taking aim at the UFC’s welterweight division.
Askren has long been touted as one of the greatest fighters of all time who had never competed in the UFC but that’s about to change as the undefeated American is set to be part of a historic trade deal.
According to several reports, the UFC are set to trade their former flyweight champion and pound-for-pound great, Demetrious Johnson, for ONE Championship’s Askren.
Askren is set to vacate his ONE Championship 170lbs title in order to test his mettle against the UFC’s elite and several fighters have already been targeted.
Liverpool’s Darren Till, who is fresh off the first defeat of his mixed martial arts career, was one of the first to respond to Askren’s goading.
Who the fuck are you ? I’ve had one loss don’t be thinking your gonna come over here and ruin everyone, trust me I would knock the curly hair out your head you hillbilly. https://t.co/ba9IvXu92t
— DT (@darrentill2) October 25, 2018
Askren remains unbeaten and it will be intriguing to see how the UFC match him up for his Octagon debut.
While Till would represent an interesting opponent in terms of the different skill-sets possessed by the fighters, Askren is not solely focused on ‘The Gorilla’ as he has started wars of words with the likes of Georges St-Pierre, the Diaz brothers, Jorge Masvidal, Mike Perry and Colby Covington.
Hey @GeorgesStPierre please name your terms of engagement!!! Who would you like me to beat up or how many twitter followers would you like me to have. You name it’s done. Then I’ll see you in Montreal.
— Funky (@Benaskren) October 26, 2018
Hey @nickdiaz209 word is you blew all your money and need to fight again. I realize you haven’t won a bout since 2011, but people still seem to think you are good. I’m willing to show them otherwise!
— Funky (@Benaskren) October 26, 2018
And @NateDiaz209 you can’t keep waiting on your sugar daddy @TheNotoriousMMA to make you some more money. If big bro lets you out of the house and your feeling funky holler at me
— Funky (@Benaskren) October 26, 2018
Jorge you haven’t won a fight since Jan 2017! If you had a shred of self awareness you would realize it would be an honor for you to share the cage with me. https://t.co/oI5BCDS0RM
— 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. https://t.co/xMAV4jpZmg
— Funky (@Benaskren) October 25, 2018
@ColbyCovMMA might get beat up by @TWooodley first but I’m calling dibs on whipping him next. He is despicable
— Funky (@Benaskren) October 25, 2018
At the age of 34, Askren clearly wants to get busy solidifying his legacy with some wins in the UFC before the time comes to hang up his gloves.
There is no shortage of fascinating fights at welterweight and there have also been rumblings of the formation of a 165lbs division, where ‘Funky’ could potentially meet Khabib Nurmagomedov.
Few mixed martial artists are able to retire without a loss on their records but given Askren’s grappling prowess, it’s definitely not outside the realms of possibility to see him walk away from MMA unscathed and undefeated.
We just can’t wait to see him set foot in the Octagon.
