So it looks like we’re going to play the “sign the contract” game between Ultimate Fighting Championship (UFC) welterweight contenders, Ben Askren and Jorge Masvidal.
Here’s what we know so far: UFC President Dana White is trying to book the fight, which is likely to produce the next title contender for the winner of Kamaru Usman vs. Colby Covington. Askren has already called out Masvidal on Twitter, but “Gamebred” was non-committal, insisting those decisions are best left to his management team.
One thing Masvidal would commit to, is the story about punking Askren at the fighter hotel ahead of the UFC London event (read it). It seems “Funky” was being nice to the ESPN+ headliner and wishing him all sorts of luck, perhaps as a way to avoid drinking that Cuban soda.
“Bold faced lie about hotel interaction, many witnesses to confirm,” Askren wrote on Twitter. “If you need to lie to make yourself feel good then that’s fine, just don’t be scared to sign the contract!”
Speaking of witnesses…
“I was there Ben. You greeted Jorge when he walked up to you and told him he looked good,” agent Ibrahim Kawa said. “You also told him you will talk to him after the fight and you put your head down and walked away. You had your chance to bark. Seems you’ve been lying to yourself with that gift.”
The gift in question is Herb Dean’s blown call at UFC 235.
No word yet on when or where Askren will fight Masvidal, but “Gamebred” is running out of options if he hopes to look elsewhere. Leon Edwards was on the table, but White shot that down in favor of something bigger and better.
I vote for this guy.