Former Bellator welterweight champ Ben Askren has been retired for quite some time. However, in a recent turn of events, he is ready to come out of his retirement to fight Jorge Masvidal. The former welterweight fighter recently posted a update on his health and claimed that he has kept in great shape during his retirement. He also added that he is all fired up to fight the person who handed him his quickest defeat.
Before being signed by UFC, Askren was an undefeated welterweight champion in One FC and Bellator. Askren took on the former welterweight champion Robbie Lawler for his UFC debut and submitted him in the first round. However, he later entered the Octagon against Jorge Masvidal who was coming off a fresh win over Darren Till.
This matchup did not work in Askren’s favor as he was handed his first professional loss in the least possible time. Jorge Masvidal’s flying knee finish of Ben Askren to this day is the fastest knockout in UFC history. From there on Askren lost yet again to Demian Maia and retired from MMA.
Meanwhile, Jorge Masvidal won the BMF title against Nate Diaz and was propelled to a superstar-level status in UFC. Masvidal recently retired after his loss to Gilbert Burns and got more involved in running his Gamebred Promotion. Months later Jorge Masvidal has called out Ben Askren for a boxing match instead of MMA.
This guy still alive ?🤣
— BMF.eth (@GamebredFighter) July 25, 2023
Askren fired back and called Jorge a ‘coward’ for calling him out for a boxing match. He explained he has been fit despite retirement and will only fight Jorge in an MMA bout. However, Gamebred does not seem too interested in the proposition and trolled Askren on his latest post.
” This guy still alive,” tweeted Masvidal. While both fighters are ready to fight each other, they are yet to arrive on similar terms. Until then, Jorge Masvidal will be attending UFC 291 to crown the new BMF title winner.
Jorge Masvidal will crown new BMF champion at ufc 291
UFC is officially bringing back the BMF title after former BMF champion Jorge Masvidal retired at UFC 287. The contest for the next BMF champion will take place between two of the most violent and entertaining fighters in UFC history. Former interim lightweight champions Dustin Poirier and Justin Gaethje will be fighting for the title at UFC 291.
The first time around this belt was introduced, former pro wrestler and Hollywood star Dwayne Johnson crowned the champion. However, this time around former Baddest Mother*** Jorge Masvidal will be crowning the new champion instead. Masvidal believes that only a former BMF champion is worth of crowning the next.
“It should be me giving it to the winner of that, and the winner of that giving it to the winner, and so on. That’s the tradition, right?” said Masvidal in an interview. UFC President Dana White liked the idea and green signalled Jorge’s demand.
While Masvidal believes that no two fighters other than Poirier and Gaethje could have been a better pick, he is a bit biased. The former BMF champion used to train with Dustin Poirier and is leaning towards him to win the fight. Regardless, the fight will be talked about for years and might even be in contention for the fight of the year award.