Askren details who he wants to fight and who he won’t fight
Ben Askren: “I don’t get to pick it, but if I did it would be Khabib and then Georges. I would say at 165, at catchweight.”
Ben Askren retired undefeated from ONE at 33, with a widely held belief that he might be the world’s best welterweight, but hadn’t proved it. In the meantime, UFC G.O.A.T. candidate Demetrious Johnson maintained his dignity in a sport were poor sportsmanship puts asses in seats. So the two promotions did a swap.
Now Askren has detailed what he wants next.
UFC sees the value in me because they traded me for literally the greatest fighter who has ever stepped on planet earth in Demetrious Johnson,” said Askren, as transcribed from the social network by Adam Guillen Jr. for MMA Mania. “That guy defended his belt 11 times. He is phenomenal, so they see the value in what I am going to do for their organization to trade their best fighter away for me.
Khabib? I’m the best grappler on planet earth. Khabib, bring the heat. Georges, come out of retirement just tell me what I got to do. Whether it’s my amount of followers or to beat someone up, you just name what I got to do Georges because you are not saying nothing.
Diaz, if you put down the pipe long enough to pass a USADA test to get in the cage. Masvidal you’re a bum. Boom roasted. I got nothing bad to say about Stephen Thompson, but I know I will beat him up. Darren Till, he’s the worst. I’ll beat him up. Till, if you’re really tough, call UFC and tell them they want me. I’ll come to London, I am not scared.
As far as Georges is concerned this isn’t a sign of disrespect. I think he is one of, if not the greatest welterweights of all time. That said, I think my skill-set matches up very well with him and I want a challenge.”
I don’t get to pick it, but if I did it would be Khabib and then Georges. I would say at 165, at catchweight. I think if you ask Khabib he would say he likes 165 and that would be a good weight class for me. And then they’d have a reason to give McGregor another belt! It’s fantastic, everybody wins. I am creating win-win-win. I just got Conor McGregor another belt. Boom.
One figure not on the list is Roufusport teammate and UFC welterweight champion Tyron Woodley.
“Tyron and I aren’t fighting,” he explained. “If he breaks his knee and they want me to fight for an interim belt, then I’ll fight but he and I aren’t fighting. I’ve known him since I was 17 years old.