Since signing with Ultimate Fighting Championship (UFC) last year, Ben Askren has quickly seen his stock rise with fight fans and even company president Dana White. After making a successful debut by defeating Robbie Lawler at UFC 235 (see it here), “Funky” is only looking up, as his bank account, as he pocketed a cool $350,000 for his Octagon debut.
To hear Ben tell the tale, his pay is just one of the reasons why Jorge Masvidal dislikes him so much, as the wrestling powerhouse makes more than “Gamebred,” who has 16 fights with the promotion.
“I would say he’s pissed that a punk white kid has came into the UFC and is making over double him, and I’ve had no history in the UFC,” proclaimed Askren on a recent edition of Ariel Helwani’s MMA Show.
“In his head, that’s unjust and it’s unfair. So to that I would say, there is a reason I have made my brand so valuable and there is a reason why I get paid what I do. So if you look at any type of metrics, my numbers are looking pretty damn good, Jorge, so suck it.”
Masvidal and Askren has developed quite a rivalry over the last few months, and will get to settle their beef with one another at the upcoming UFC 239 pay-per-view (PPV) event on July 6, 2019 in Las Vegas, Nevada.
Jorge is coming off a knockout victory over former title contender Darren Till (see it here), so a victory over the still undefeated (19-0-1, 1-0 UFC) Askren could be just what he needs to get him his first taste of a title fight inside the Octagon.
The same can be said for “Funky,” who coincidentally enough also has beef with the current Welterweight champion of the world.