UFC president Dana White already has some plans for Ben Askren, who will be making his company debut after a successful deal with ONE Championship.
There was a time when Ben Askren had zero chances to be in the UFC because of a previous long-standing feud with company president Dana White as far back as 2012. Six years later, the UFC made a landmark deal that got the “Funky” one signed to fight in the Octagon.
Askren’s inclusion into the UFC roster had opened up the possibility for many matchups at 170 pounds, his home weight class since he began his professional career in 2009. And he will likely be getting an elite name upon his arrival, at least according to Dana White.
“I don’t know; we’re still working on it,” White told TMZ Sports in a recent run-in. “Obviously, he’s gonna come into the welterweight division. 170 pounds. He’s undefeated, he’s their champion. So we’re excited about it.
“He’s definitely gonna fight somebody in the top five.”
Most UFC welterweights were not too thrilled about the Askren’s UFC entry. Colby Covington, for one, lambasted the former ONE titleholder, calling him a “jobber” with a padded record.