UFC welterweight Ben Askren speaks about what he believes a good MMA promoter should be about.
UFC president Dana White is known for his sharp critiques towards fighters. Most recently, the outspoken executive questioned Dmitrii Smoliakov’s record and how the Russian heavyweight fighter racked up a 9-2 record prior to facing Greg Hardy on Saturday at UFC Fort Lauderdale.
One of White’s biggest critics in Ben Askren touched on this specific aspect of promotion in the UFC, when he was asked how we would handle things given the chance to be a promoter himself.
“I think I could do it,” Askren told MMA Junkie Radio. “I think part of me would enjoy it, but I also have too many things going in my life that I already enjoy that I don’t know that I would ever go that route.
“Honestly, maybe I don’t know the full scope of it, right? But, I think I could do things better by fighters. I think I could be more honest. I’ve had multiple promoters lie about me. I could be honest and do well by the fighters.
“I don’t think you have to sh-t on the fighters all the time in order to have a good promotion.”
Askren is currently matched up against Jorge Masvidal, whom he will be facing at UFC 239 on July 6th in Las Vegas.