Sapo misses 170, then calls Askren P@$$%, refuses to make 190
“Ben Askren is an idiot. He talks trash because I’m (2 pounds) over after a tough weight cut … At this point he’s just scared. I’m ready to fight him, but it looks like he’s not.”
Luis ‘Sapo’ Santos failed to make weight for the ONE Championship title fight with champion Ben Askren, by two pounds. He failed to fulfill his contract.
An outraged Askren condemned his opponent on Twitter. Further, the champion said Santos had to weigh in at 190 the next day, or the fight was off.
Ben Askren @Benaskren
•My garbage opponent missed weight! He’s on the clock.
•Santos missed. My demand is that Santos makes 190lbs tomorrow or else the fight is off.
•So sick of amateur Jabronis that refuse to honor the contract put in front of them.
•It is on him at this point. 20lbs is more than reasonable.
•I said we both weigh in again tomorrow. Under 190 or no fight.
Rather than take responsibility for his unprofessionalism, like a, well, like a professional, Santos doubled down. ‘Sapo’ said he was already 190 before eating, simply from rehydration alone. And insulted Askren.
“I will weigh-in again at 1pm (local time, midnight ET) because this p—y is demanding that,” said Santos to Guilherme Cruz forMMA Fighting. “He hides on Twitter, talks trash about others. Crazy American. He’s garbage.”
“Askren is an idiot. He talks trash because I’m 900g (2 pounds) over after a tough weight cut, and he’s coming with several demands that I can’t be heavier. That doesn’t make sense. If the fight is not for the belt, why does it matter? At this point he’s just scared. I’m ready to fight him, but it looks like he’s not. If he was the one 900g over, I’d fight him anyway.”
“I just had some water and juice and I’m already at that weight, imagine after eating? That sucks. It doesn’t make sense for me to hold my weight down. If he wants to fight me even if it’s not for the title, he can’t make those demands. That doesn’t make any sense. He’s hiding behind this accident, but whatever. I’m waiting for their decision. I trained hard to fight a guy that fights wrestling instead of MMA.”
“I left Florida 6 kilos (13 pounds) over, like I always do, and I guess the long travel was an issue. I’m really disappointed at myself for not making weight, but I know I’m ready to fight. If the fight doesn’t happen it’s because of this paper champion’s demands. He’s treating two pounds as 20 pounds. That’s what I think.”
ONE Championship founder Victor Cui put the verbal equivalent of a ‘Funky’ level beating on Santos.
This is singlehandedly one of the most unprofessional things I’ve ever seen from a fighter in the history of ONE Championship, Cui told MMAjunkie. He’s had months to prepare for this fight. Months. Basically, since the first fight, we said we’re going to do a rematch as soon as his eye heels. To come in that much overweight is really unprofessional. I can’t believe a professional fighter at this level, with this much at stake, would not make weight.
I do want to make this fight happen down the road (as a title fight). But that said, he’s completely tainted himself. Our staff is all completely disgusted with his lack of professionalism.
He’s not sick, he has no injuries – in fact, when he landed several days ago, I saw him eating, so I thought, ‘Good, he’s on weight.”
Ben’s put in the time for this fight. A fighter’s got two jobs: make weight and put on an entertaining fight. (Santos) didn’t do his job. Ben’s not known for holding back his opinion. Obviously he’s upset. If this was a prelim fight, or guys who have a record of 3-1, it would be one thing. But (Santos) has over 70 fights in his career, and this is the biggest fight of his life. To promote this event and fly him out to Singapore for an event televised to a world audience, it shows what an utter lack of professionalism he has (to miss weight).
When Santos refused to make 190 for a 170 pound division, the was scrapped.
Cui himself summed up the feelings of most observers.
“I think that maybe Sapo is just scared to fight Askren, tweeted the league founder.
ONE Championship 32 weigh-ins
Main Card (Online pay-per-view, 7 a.m. ET)
Champ Ben Askren (169.5) vs. Luis Santos (172)* – non-title bout
Champ DejdamrongSorAmnuaysirichoke (114.5) vs. Yago Bryan Farias de Morais (116.5)* – non-title bout
KotetsuBoku (144.5) vs. Major Overall (144)
Natalie Gonzales Hills (114) vs. Angela Lee (113.5)
Alain Ngalani (243.5) vs. Igor Subora (225.5)
Prelim Card (Facebook, 6 a.m. ET)
Edward Kelly (144.5) vs. Martin Nguyen (143.5)
Amir Khan (144.5) vs. Jimmy Yabo (144.5)
Benedict Ang (144.5) vs. YohanMuliaLegowo (144)
Nathan Ng (145) vs. Li Kai Wen (145)
* – Missed weight