Bellator welterweight champion Ben Askren may be playing the free agency game right now trying to determine where his next MMA fight will take place, but in the mean time he’s staying busy while going back to his roots.
Askren, who was a 2008 Olympian in wrestling and also a former two-time NCAA champion wrestler, will return to the mats for his next competition.
The former University of Missouri standout has signed on with AGON Wrestling Championships to serve as the main event for the promotion’s first upcoming show, currently slated to take place in Las Vegas on October 27.
According to AGON representatives who spoke with Bleacher Report on Thursday, Askren will face former NCAA champion and four-time All-American wrestler from Penn State Quentin Wright, who has verbally accepted the matchup against the current Bellator champion.
The plans for AGON are similar to what Metamoris did in jiu-jitsu earlier this year—staging a major event that will air online while showcasing the sport of wrestling in a similar way that MMA is aired on television.
More pairings will be added in the coming weeks for the wrestling event, but one other matchup confirmed on Thursday is former Ohio State All-American wrestler and current MMA prospect Lance Palmer, who will take on Oklahoma State standout Jordan Oliver.
For Askren, this is a chance to get back on the mats and stay active while he’s dealing with his current MMA fight situation.
Askren finished out the last fight on his deal with Bellator in late July and entered a de facto restricted free agency period. Askren is free to accept offers from any promotion, but Bellator still has the right to match any contract he receives during his matching period.
As of now there’s been no word on where Askren will end up, although the UFC has shown interest in the former Olympian, but no deal has been offered or accepted at this stage in negotiations.
Askren is currently in Milwaukee where he trains at the school headed up by coach Duke Roufus as he supports his teammate Anthony Pettis, who competes in the UFC 164 main event this weekend. Askren will also attend a press conference currently in the works for Saturday in Milwaukee to officially announce his new home with AGON that will keep him busy until he can get back in the cage again.
Damon Martin is a Featured Columnist for Bleacher Report
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