Tag: Ben Askren

Amid calls for a potential mixed martial arts rematch with his fellow retired former welterweight contender, Jorge Masvidal, former Bellator MMA and ONE Championship champion, Ben Askren has claimed the Floridan is “scared of being embarrassed” – if the duo share the Octagon again.

Askren, a former welterweight contender under the banner of the UFC and three-fight veteran under the Dana White-led banner, called time on his professional mixed martial arts career back in November 2019, after undergoing hip surgery.

Briefly returning to combat sports in the time since, Askren took on recent winner, the outspoken Jake Paul in a first venture into the squared circle, suffering a thunderous first round KO loss in the pair’s professional boxing match.

However, Askren’s interest in a potential mixed martial arts return and re-run against former-foe and arch-rival, Masvidal was piqued, when the Miami native admitted that he would snap his own retirement form combat sports to face him.

Ben Askren claims Jorge Masvidal is “embarrassed” to take a rematch with him

Taking a slew of shots at each other on social media over the last number of weeks, Askren vowed that he would put on a wrestling clinic against Masvial – and “embarrass” the American Top Team staple.

“That’s why he (Jorge Masvidal) won’t do it,” Ben Askren said on Daniel Cormier’s YouTube channel,” So he’s not scared of fighting and he’s not scared of pain, right? But there’s multiple fears. What he’s scared of is being embarrassed, right? I’ll pull his hair, I’ll rub his face in ground for about 15 minutes and leave him with some mat burns here. He’ll be real embarrassed.”

“There’s lots of fears we have in life,” Ben Askren continued. “We, as men, Daniel, we can have lots of fears. I’ll tell you what I’m scared of – I’m scared of snakes. I’m scared of sharks. I won’t go in deep water. I don’t mess with them sharks, that’s their house, right? Jorge Masvidal, he’s not scared of a fight, he’s not scared of a physical altercation. He’s scared of being embarrassed and losing status, that’s what he’s scared of.” 

Meeting Masvidal in an infamous pairing in July 2019, Askren suffered a record-setting five-second flying-knee knockout loss to the former two-time title challenger at UFC 239 at the T-Mobile Arena in Las Vegas, Nevada. 

Would you like to see Jorge Masvidal rematch Ben Askren in the UFC?

Despite claiming he would likely snap his retirement from combat sports for a boxing rematch with former foe, Ben Askren in the future, Jorge Masvidal has mocked the former’s acceptance of a potential re-run – questioning if the Iowa native is “still alive” following his infamous 5-second KO loss back in 2019. 

Masvidal, a former two-time welterweight title challenger under the banner of the UFC, confirmed his immediate retirement from active competition back in April, suffering a unanimous decision loss to Gilbert Burns on home soil in Miami.

As for Askren, the former Bellator MMA and ONE Championship championship holder retired from mixed martial arts himself back in 2019, following a submission loss to Demian Maia in Singapore, and a surgical procedure on his hip.

However, over the course of this week, Ben Askren and Jorge Masvidal have both entertained a potential rematch in the future – the former under the UFC banner, while Floridian veteran, Masvidal has offered to fight Askren inside the squared circle instead.

And sharing screenshots of his offer to UFC leader, Dana White to fight Masvidal under the UFC banner to boot – Askren also detailed a rather impressive physique he has been maintaining since his professional boxing debut against the outspoken, Jake Paul two years ago.

Jorge Masvidal again mocks Ben Askren’s 2019 loss to him

Poking fun at his 2019 record-setting knockout win over Askren inside just 5 seconds courtesy of an infamous flying-knee victory, Jorge Masvidal simply posted, “This guy (Ben Askren) still alive?” on his official Instagram account. 

In the midst of a four-fight losing skid at the time of retirement, Masvidal, the current promoter of Gamebred Fighting Championship, dropped a pair of losses in title fights against former champion and ex-pound-for-pound number one, Kamaru Usman – the second of which in a staggering second round KO loss in 2021 in Jacksonville, Florida. 

After offering to make a retirement-snapping comeback against past-foe and arch-enemy, Jorge Masvidal in a potential comeback to the UFC, veteran wrestling ace, Ben Askren has shown off an impressive physique since his retirement from active competition.

Askren, a former undisputed Bellator MMA and ONE Championship gold holder at the welterweight limit, retired from mixed martial arts competition back in 2019, following hip surgery off the back of a UFC Kallang main event submission loss to fellow grappler, Demian Maia.

Beginning his Octagon tenure in style, Askren, who rode an impressive 19-fight undefeated run into his debut in the UFC against former welterweight champion, Robbie Lawler – landing a controversial bulldog submission win at UFC 235.

Returning in July of that year in a highly-anticipated bout against the above-mentioned, Masvidal, Iowa native, Askren dropped the fastest stoppage loss in UFC history – courtesy of a 5-second flying knee knockout loss to the Floridian striker.

Returning to combat sports in April 2021 as part of a lucrative payday, Askren dropped a first round TKO loss to outspoken professional boxer, Jake Paul in less than two minutes.

However, this Tuesday evening, Askren entertained a stunning return to the UFC for a re-run with his fellow retired, Masvidal – showing a text message he had sent to promotional leader, Dana White – enquiring if the former was serious about a rematch inside the Octagon.

Ben Askren shows off a huge frame following his MMA retirement

And furthermore, Askren, who retweeted a post suggesting a rematch at a monumental UFC 300 event in the opening quarter of next year, showed off an impressive build in his time away from combat sports.

“I’ve kept in great shape during retirement,” Ben Askren tweeted. “I have zero desire to fight anyone expect that loser Jorge (Masvidal).” 

Over the course of his decorated professional career, Ben Askren racked up notable wins over the likes of Lyman Good, Jay Hieron, Douglas Lima, Andrey Koreshkov, Shinya Aoki, and the aforenoted, Lawler.

In some rather surprising news, former UFC welterweight, Ben Askren has offered to snap his retirement from mixed martial arts competition – echoing claims from Jorge Masvidal that he would also end his recent retiring for a future rematch.

Askren, a former undisputed ONE Championship and Bellator MMA welterweight champion, competed three times under the banner of the UFC before retiring from professional mixed martial arts competition off the back of hip surgery back in late-2019.

However, during his brief spell under the banner of the Dana White-led UFC banner, Askren suffered the quickest knockout loss in the history of the organization; a brutal 5-second flying knee KO loss to Masvidal at UFC 239 back in 2019. The defeat snapped Askren’s 20-fight undefeated professional record in the pair’s grudge match.

As for Masvidal, the Floridian announced his retirement from mixed martial arts back in April following a fourth consecutive loss – bookended by a decision defeat to Gilbert Burns at UFC 287.

And according to Masvidal, the former two-time welterweight title challenger claimed he would snap his hiatus from combat sports for a boxing match rematch with Askren.

“I heard Ben Askren said he’d come out of retirement to fight me,” Jorge Masvidal told TMZ Sports. “I was like, ‘This dude…’ He wanted MMA but for his sake, I’d do boxing so I can’t knee him in the face, it’s illegal (in boxing). Duh, come on, man.” 

Ben Askren offers to fight Jorge Masvidal in the UFC again

Reacting to Masvidal’s claims, Askren shared a text message he sent to the aforenoted UFC president, White, writing, “I know I’m retired but I sure would love to beat up Jorge. Let me know if he is in.” 

And as far as the setting for a potential rematch against his arch-rival, Masvidal, Askren offered to fight him under mixed martial arts rules, rather than return to professional boxing.

“No, I’m not gonna box Jorge,” Ben Askren tweeted. “If Jorge was really a BMF he will accept a rematch in MMA and not be a coward.”