Is Dana White warming up to Ben Askren?

Even though UFC President Dana White and former Olympic wrestler Ben Askien have gone back-and-forth over Twitter and the media back-and-forth over the past few years, White said he was open minded about the possibility of Askren fighting in the UFC.

Askren on Friday night had captured the ONE FC welterweight championship in Dubai from Nobutatsu Suzuki, by taking him down and grounding and pounding into a stoppage at 1:24.

The win gave Askren a 14-0 record, and even though his reputation has been at times like a wrestling blanket, a guy who continually takes opponents down and keeps them there, this was his eighth career stoppage. The One FC titte followed a nearly three-year run as Bellator welterweight champion. Askren vacated that title last year when his contract expired in an unsuccessful attempt to get into the UFC.

Outspoken on a number of subjects, Askren just this past weekend was making fun of Joe Soto getting a title shot.  He’s often taken digs at White, including once saying that he signed with ONE FC because White suggested he go to the World Series of Fighting.

“Yeah, if he keeps winning, he can get a shot over here,” White said after UFC 177.

Since leaving Bellator, Askren, likely the highest profile current fighter on the ONE FC roster,  has scored two first-round finishes.

“Ben Askren said a lot of stupid s— when he left (Bellator), but I don’t care about stuff like that,” said White. “I could care less about stuff like that. We’ll see how the kid fights. Contrary to belief, well, I do hold grudges forever if you’re a real idiot, I’ll hold a grudge until the day you drop dead, but I don’t hold a grudge against fighters.”

White pointed to the UFC bringing back Tito Ortiz as an example that he won’t less personal feelings get in the way of  signing a top fighter.

“If Tito Ortiz can come back to the UFC, anyone can, because there’s nobody I haed more than Tito and Tito came back.”

Askren was one of the most decorated U.S. wrestlers in any weight class of the modern era, going 153-8 at the University of Missouri, winning two Hodge Trophies for the best college wrestler, regardless of weight, in the nation.

Even though UFC President Dana White and former Olympic wrestler Ben Askien have gone back-and-forth over Twitter and the media back-and-forth over the past few years, White said he was open minded about the possibility of Askren fighting in the UFC.

Askren on Friday night had captured the ONE FC welterweight championship in Dubai from Nobutatsu Suzuki, by taking him down and grounding and pounding into a stoppage at 1:24.

The win gave Askren a 14-0 record, and even though his reputation has been at times like a wrestling blanket, a guy who continually takes opponents down and keeps them there, this was his eighth career stoppage. The One FC titte followed a nearly three-year run as Bellator welterweight champion. Askren vacated that title last year when his contract expired in an unsuccessful attempt to get into the UFC.

Outspoken on a number of subjects, Askren just this past weekend was making fun of Joe Soto getting a title shot.  He’s often taken digs at White, including once saying that he signed with ONE FC because White suggested he go to the World Series of Fighting.

“Yeah, if he keeps winning, he can get a shot over here,” White said after UFC 177.

Since leaving Bellator, Askren, likely the highest profile current fighter on the ONE FC roster,  has scored two first-round finishes.

“Ben Askren said a lot of stupid s— when he left (Bellator), but I don’t care about stuff like that,” said White. “I could care less about stuff like that. We’ll see how the kid fights. Contrary to belief, well, I do hold grudges forever if you’re a real idiot, I’ll hold a grudge until the day you drop dead, but I don’t hold a grudge against fighters.”

White pointed to the UFC bringing back Tito Ortiz as an example that he won’t less personal feelings get in the way of  signing a top fighter.

“If Tito Ortiz can come back to the UFC, anyone can, because there’s nobody I haed more than Tito and Tito came back.”

Askren was one of the most decorated U.S. wrestlers in any weight class of the modern era, going 153-8 at the University of Missouri, winning two Hodge Trophies for the best college wrestler, regardless of weight, in the nation.