Askren not happy with teammate Pettis after Masvidal praise

Photo by Mike Roach/Zuffa LLC/Zuffa LLC via Getty Images

Anthony Pettis said he was “happy as f-ck” for Jorge Masvidal after beating Ben Askren at UFC 239, even though he and Askren train at the same gym. “Funky” took issue with that.

Anthony Pettis has some explaining to do, according to his teammate Ben Askren.

Pettis, who meets Nate Diaz in the UFC 241 co-main event Saturday in Anaheim, was caught on camera talking with UFC middleweight Yoel Romero, who is also set to compete on the card. Pettis asked Romero how his American Top Team teammate Jorge Masvidal was doing following his five-second knockout of Askren last month. Pettis praised Masvidal for the highlight-reel finish.

Askren, who trains alongside Pettis at Roufusport in Milwaukee, took issue with this.

“I agree Dillon this is unacceptable,” Askren tweeted Saturday after Bellator fighter Dillon Danis brought the video involving Pettis and Romero to his attention. “[Pettis] and I aren’t bffs but I thought we had a respect and kinship where feelings and statements like this did not happen.

“I hope Anthony can clear this up and make his feelings transparent. I don’t need fake friends.”

In the video, Pettis says to Romero he was “happy as f-ck” for Masvidal when he beat Askren at UFC 239 in Las Vegas, even though Askren is his teammate, and called the finish a “beautiful ass knockout.”

In a response to Askren, Masvidal threw shade at “Funky” for bringing this up on the day of Pettis’ fight with Diaz.

“You’re a great friend Ben asking someone to clear the air up the day of their fight and waste brain power on your feelings,” Masvidal wrote.