After hearing that Bellator welterweight champion Ben Askren has plans to beat him up, UFC champ Georges St-Pierre says he’d be happy to let him try.
“Of course (I’d like to fight him),” says St-Pierre of Askren. “He’s a good fighter, undefeated, and yes, if he comes, I’ll fight him. No problem.”
“Bring him in; I’ll fight everyone. I am the champion, and I have no choice, so it’s no problem. I’m not afraid.”
Askren, who finished out his contract with Bellator with a successful title defense to Andrey Koreshkov in July, mulled retirement before deciding it was ‘time for some new challenges.‘ Although UFC president Dana White once characterized Askren as human Ambien, the promotion is expected to make some sort of offering in the near future. As for when, it largely depends on the extenuating circumstances involving Bellator’s matching period with Askren. Once the matching period has ended, Askren becomes a true free agent, allowed to sign with whomever regardless of the terms.
With no fight on the docket, Askren has been keeping busy competing in the newly formed Agon Wrestling Championships, most recently outpointing two-time NCAA champion and four-time All-American Quentin Wright in the promotion’s inaugural event on Oct. 27. St-Pierre, who has a bit more on his plate, defends his welterweight title to Johny Hendricks on Nov. 16 at UFC 167 in Las Vegas, Nevada.
5 MUST-READ STORIES
Two titles in New Jersey. With Jon Jones vs. Glover Teixeira not working out for the event, UFC 169 gets featherweight and bantamweight title fights of Jose Aldo vs. Ricardo Lamas and Renan Barao vs. Dominick Cruz instead.
20 in 20. Chuck Mindehall’s series reaches 2012, the year of flyweights, Fox and Sokoudjou ruining everything.
Close call for Gunny. UFC welterweight Gunnar Nelson was lucking to walk away from a crash after his truck went off an icy road and rolled down a hill three-to-four times.
Knapp says no. After a report stated the UFC had plans on creating a women’s strawweight (115lbs) division, Invicta FC CEO Shannon Knapp says it’s not happening.
Larry and Rampage. Quinton Jackson sits down with Larry King to talk Dana White, Tito Ortiz, leaving the UFC and the future with Bellator.
MEDIA STEW
Anderson Silva talks Michael Bisping deserving a shot, Chris Weidman’s striking and more.
Georges St-Pierre open workouts in Montreal.
David Loiseau vs. Mike Kent at ECC 18 last Friday in Halifax.
Tales From The Grind with Jorge Masvidal – Episode 4 “Viva Las Vegas”
This week’s Knuckle Up with Eugene S. Robinson.
Anderson training montage. Great mount escape and André Galvão doing a mean Sensei Seagal impression.
Scott Jorgensen vs. John Dodson at UFC Fan Expo.
Arrows – Navy guy beats out soldier.
TWEETS
Be on the lookout.
Check out http://t.co/iIekJfFXSY tomorrow at 9:00am 2 find out who and when and where I’m fighting.. They won’t let me say anymore.
— Quinton Jackson (@Rampage4real) October 30, 2013
Busy Ronda.
Just finished my first week of training back home after #expendables3 and am already off to #fast7 …. #handleit
— Ronda Rousey (@RondaRousey) October 29, 2013
You’re supposed to get bonuses for punching people.
@dylanwardenn fuck no!!! I’m gonna give him a bonus!!!
— Dana White (@danawhite) October 29, 2013
I’ve done six weeks standing on my head.
Ppl I will have 100% recovery & will be back n the gym in 6 weeks.I’m a fighter & I love (cont) http://t.co/MmL0BV8x6F
— Tito Ortiz (@titoortiz) October 29, 2013
Indeed.
Shout out to Lyoto for not taking that last punch
— Jon Bones Jones (@JonnyBones) October 29, 2013
A beef sorta gets sorted out.
@SAADMMA because you and your fans are a bunch of cry babies
— Will Brooks (@illwillbrooks86) October 30, 2013
@illwillbrooks86 I haven’t said anything to you. It’s the real MMA fans that are upset about the fight.
— Saad Awad (@SAADMMA) October 30, 2013
@SAADMMA yea after you won you did show respect
— Will Brooks (@illwillbrooks86) October 30, 2013
@illwillbrooks86 and I still am. Besides be being frustrated about the way I lost. You’re acting like I’m blowing u up or something
— Saad Awad (@SAADMMA) October 30, 2013
Apologizes to @SAADMMA twitter got the best of me and I lost my temper. I’ve got great respect for Saad and his skills I let others upset me
— Will Brooks (@illwillbrooks86) October 30, 2013
Probably got offered a title shot somewhere in there.
Yeah…… Think I need to catch up on some emails. http://t.co/BkuOfO4vL8
— michael (@bisping) October 29, 2013
For the man in your life.
This is the best cologne I have ever had! You will regret not getting it #cologne http://t.co/1Bi8vWpjRv
— Hector Lombard (@HectorLombard) October 29, 2013
FIGHT ANNOUNCEMENTS
Announced yesterday (Oct. 29 2013)
John Dodson vs. Scott Jorgensen at UFC on Fox 9
Gian Villante vs. Cody Donovan at UFC 167
Dominick Cruz vs. Renan Barao at UFC 169
Jose Aldo vs. Ricardo Lamas at UFC 169
FANPOST OF THE DAY
Today’s Fanpost of the Day comes via leriksson.
WMMA November Preview: 105 title & 115 Grand Prix
November Edition
I am back with the best in WMMA this month. I’m not sure if there’s any live streams, but I’ll post when I do know
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Nov. 4 – DEEP JEWELS 2
105lbs Atomweight
#6 Seo Hee Ham vs. #12 Sadae Numata (For Atomweight title)
Both of these girls (woman for Numata, I mean she’s FORTY ONE, according to Sherdog) would be welcome additions to Invicta’s 105 division. In seems Invicta isn’t keen on a Penne/Waterson rematch, so soon. The winner of this fight, could be next for Waterson.Numata missed weight for her last fight, so it’ll be interesting to see what happens if she misses weight again. It can’t be easy cutting weight as not only a woman, but also a 41 year old woman. This is a very winnable fight for Numata.
115lbs Strawweight
#10 Mizuki Inoue vs #11 Emi Fujino (Strawweight Semi-Final #1)
Inoue drew first in the random draw and got Fujino. Fujino is a tough fighter, but she loses to the best, and Inoue is going to be a star. Inoue has already fought girls on Fujino’s level, such as Invicta fighters, Alex Chambers, Bec Hyatt and Ayaka Hamasaki, beating Chambers and Hyatt. She had the best debut for a Japanese fighter in America in a long, long time (Horiguchi made an emphatic debut against Dustin Pague too).…
Check out the rest of the post here.
Found something you’d like to see in the Morning Report? Just hit me up on Twitter @SaintMMA and we’ll include it in tomorrow’s column.