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Leon Edwards backed to defeat Islam Makhachev in future UFC title clash: ‘It’s a really tough fight for him’

Leon Edwards picked to beat Islam Makhachev in UFC title fight it's a tough fight for him Linked in recent weeks with a future welterweight title fight against lightweight kingpin, Islam Makhachev, Leon Edwards has been backed to pose a massive threat to the Russian by former division contender, Ben Askren. Edwards, the current undisputed welterweight champion, has been sidelined from the Octagon since he headlined UFC 286 back in March in […]

Linked in recent weeks with a future welterweight title fight against lightweight kingpin, Islam Makhachev, Leon Edwards has been backed to pose a massive threat to the Russian by former division contender, Ben Askren.

Edwards, the current undisputed welterweight champion, has been sidelined from the Octagon since he headlined UFC 286 back in March in London, turning in his second career win over former pound-for-pound number one, Kamaru Usman in the pair’s title trilogy rubber match.

The Birmingham native had been called out by Makhachev for a welterweight title fight at UFC 294 in October in Abu Dhabi, UAE, however, the latter has since booked a lightweight title defense against Charles Oliveira in a championship re-run on the Middle East card.

Leon Edwards, who has yet to book his own Octagon return, has been linked with a comeback in the co-main event of UFC 295 in November, in a title fight against former interim champion, Colby Covington at Madison Square Garden.

Ben Askren picks Leon Edwards to topple Islam Makhachev

However, according to former ONE Championship and Bellator MMA gold holder, Askren, Edwards’ ability would pose a massive problem for Makhachev – with the former going as far as claiming the welterweight titleholder would likely defeat the Russian in they fought.

“Man, Leon Edwards, he’s gotten so much better,” Ben Askren said on an episode of Funky & The Champ. “I’ve been really impressed by him. I think it’s a really tough fight for (Islam) Makhachev. It really is. He (Edwards) can stuff takedowns, he can battle, strike really clean. Yes, it’s a good fight, I’m in.”

“I’d probably pick Leon, honestly,” Askren explained. “After the last (Kamaru) Usman fight, I mean, you could just see even from two Usman fights ago, he did such a better job of like, battling in the wrestling position and dictating it to be more of a striking fight. If you could do that against Usman… He’s just bigger and stronger (than Makhachev). If Usman couldn’t push him aroun, I have a hard time thinking Makhachev is going to.” (Transcribed by MMA News)

Ben Askren details reason behind boxing Jake Paul, delivers prediction for Nate Diaz fight

Although it didn’t go to plan, Ben Askren (19-2 MMA) planned on being the one to end the Jake Paul experiment before it even began. During the rise of ‘influencer boxing’ in 2020, it was mocked by most professional fighters who believed it was nothing more than a fad. The emergence of controversial YouTuber Jake […]

Although it didn’t go to plan, Ben Askren (19-2 MMA) planned on being the one to end the Jake Paul experiment before it even began.

During the rise of ‘influencer boxing’ in 2020, it was mocked by most professional fighters who believed it was nothing more than a fad.

The emergence of controversial YouTuber Jake Paul to the ‘influencer boxing’ scene did however add some intrigue.

Paul’s professional boxing career began with knockout wins over the likes of influencer Ali Eson Gib and former NBA player Nate Robinson kept the train moving.

Although Jake Paul’s wins continued to push him into the limelight, many people knew that he was beating untrained fighters. Despite this, his obnoxious persona attracted fans who tuned in to watch him receive some long-overdue karma.

Despite this, fans could see visible improvement in Paul’s boxing ability, they knew someone with some fighting experience would have to be called upon.

That someone was Ben Askren.

‘Funky’ had one of the best wrestling pedigrees in MMA, however, when it came to fighting Jake Paul, it was apparent his best days were behind him.

Unfortunately for the optimistic MMA fans, Ben Askren’s striking was exposed by YouTuber Jake Paul, and paid the ultimate price after getting knocked out one minute and 59 seconds into the first round.

Ben Askren gives his prediction for Jake Paul Vs. Nate Diaz

Since Pauls’s fight with Askren, ‘The Problem Child’ has racked up wins against the likes of Tyron Woodley (19-7-1 MMA) and Anderson Silva (34-11 MMA), amassing a record of 6-1.

Following Jake Paul’s latest loss to Tommy Fury, he is set to face another UFC legend, Nate Diaz (21-13 MMA), on August 5^th.

In a recent interview on ‘Daniel Cormier TV’, Ben Askren admitted he overlooked Jake Paul as a legitimate threat, however, he is done doubting his former opponent.

“I got to imagine [he beats Diaz],” Ben Askren stated.

“I didn’t think Jake Paul would beat Tyron [Woodley] or Anderson Silva. So yeah, I kind of think so. It sounded like fun [to box him] and I hoped he sucked. We didn’t know at that point! At that point, he only boxed a comedian or something and a basketball player. So we didn’t know nothing. I thought, ‘Oh, hopefully, this dude’s just a bum. He’s gonna try and hit me hard for a round, he’s gonna get tired, then I’m gonna beat him up.’ We didn’t know he was any good.”

Despite Nate Diaz’s impressive fighting lineage, Askren believes that Diaz is underestimating Paul and making the same mistake he made.

Regardless, with a win over Nate Diaz, the 26-year-old social media star will be eyeing up a high-profile affair with Conor McGregor (22-6 MMA). The tie between the three of them would be McGregor’s long-standing rivalry with Diaz in the UFC.

Assuming McGregor would be willing and interested in another crossover boxing bout, Askren sees it being profitable for all involved.

“Yeah, I did [make more money fighting Paul],” Askren exclaimed.

“I think McGregor times Jake Paul makes everyone a lot of money and I think if he beats up Nate Diaz it makes a lot of sense. I don’t know what Conor’s contract is or what his relationship is with UFC where he can go get it done but I think a lot of people buy that fight. I think there’s a lot of casual fans who just want to see a boxing match and you know what, Jake Paul’s actually not bad at boxing, and maybe I’m just trying to make myself feel better potentially, but he did beat Tyron, he did beat Anderson Silva.”

Does Ben Askren have a point? Would Jake Paul vs. Conor McGregor make sense?

Ben Askren: Jorge Masvidal Doesn’t Think He’ll Beat Gilbert Burns

Ben Askren doesn’t feel Jorge Masvidal will beat Gilbert Burns at UFC 287 and he also doesn’t think Masvidal believes in his chances. Masvidal will face Burns in the UFC 287 co-main event on April 8th. A venue and location have yet to be an…

Continue Reading Ben Askren: Jorge Masvidal Doesn’t Think He’ll Beat Gilbert Burns at MMA News.

Ben Askren Calls Out UFC’s Hypocrisy In Not Booking Jon Jones vs. Tom Aspinall: ‘That’s What Boxing Does’

Former UFC fighter Ben Askren thinks Dana White’s comments on the issues in boxing make no sense while he refuses to make the biggest fight at heavyweight. One topic that has remained at the surface in 2024 is Jon Jones’ return from injury. His first title defense was originally set to come against Stipe Miocic […]

Continue Reading Ben Askren Calls Out UFC’s Hypocrisy In Not Booking Jon Jones vs. Tom Aspinall: ‘That’s What Boxing Does’ at MMA News.

Former UFC fighter Ben Askren thinks Dana White’s comments on the issues in boxing make no sense while he refuses to make the biggest fight at heavyweight.

One topic that has remained at the surface in 2024 is Jon Jones’ return from injury. His first title defense was originally set to come against Stipe Miocic at last November’s UFC 295 event at Madison Square Garden.

After injury forced “Bones” out, an interim champion was crowned in his absence. Tom Aspinall’s triumph over Sergei Pavlovich added a second titleholder to the division and appeared to set up a unification showdown with Jones.

But both the Rochester native and the UFC have remained firm on rescheduling the Miocic matchup in spite of Aspinall’s gold, and that appears to still be the case following the Brit’s successful defense against Curtis Blaydes last month in Manchester.

Plenty in the community have spoken out against plans for Jones and Miocic to meet toward the end of this year, citing the heavyweight legend’s inactivity to insist that a clash with Aspinall is more intriguing.

And according to one former fighter, the promotion’s rejection of that goes directly against the UFC CEO’s frequent comments about what sets his organization apart from boxing’s politics…

Askren On Jones vs. Aspinall Delay: ‘The Fact That Dana’s Playing Along…’

During the latest episode of his Funky and the Champ YouTube show alongside Daniel Cormier, Askren gave his latest take on the heavyweight title picture.

“Funky,” a former Bellator and ONE Championship kingpin, pointed to the UFC’s claim of putting on the biggest and best fights in comparison to boxing, a sport that White has often criticized for its politics and failure to pair the top names against one another.

By not staging Jones vs. Aspinall, however, Askren believes White and the UFC is abandoning that principle.

“I almost feel like maybe Jon’s got some dirt on Dana or something,” Askren said. “Dana generally would not put up with this type of behavior. He would say — and this is what the UFC’s been founded on where boxing wasn’t — ‘we want the best guys to fight. We want to see who the actual best guy is. We don’t want to waste time with shenanigans. We don’t want to pad records…we don’t do that; that’s what boxing does. In the UFC, we put the best guys in there, we see who wins.’

“The fact that Dana’s playing along and letting him and Stipe fight — Stipe’s gonna be close to four years (since his last fight). And you have this young interim champion — I mean, he’s a beast, he smashes people,” Askren continued. “The fact they won’t put them in there together — and then there’s this obvious (chance) that Jon beats Stipe and then says, ‘I’m done, I’m gone,’ and then we never get to see that. … Dana almost always presses these issues with the best guys.”

https://t.co/d1mmdmMzf2 pic.twitter.com/etbj7TQBJV

— Tom Aspinall (@AspinallMMA) May 3, 2024

After pausing his pursuit of Jones and focusing on retaining his belt and securing redemption against Blaydes on home soil, Aspinall turned his attention back to the all-time great following his quick triumph.

And the interim champ has since vowed not to return unless undisputed status is on the line.

Read More: Dana White: Jon Jones & Stipe Miocic Have ‘Paid Their Dues’ But ‘Owe’ Tom Aspinall Title Unification Fight

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Ben Askren Open To Jake Paul Rematch In MMA After PFL News

Former UFC fighter Ben Askren would entertain a Jake Paul rematch in MMA after Paul’s signing with the PFL this week. Paul shocked the combat sports world on Thursday when he announced that he’s signing with the PFL, with his MMA debut set …

Continue Reading Ben Askren Open To Jake Paul Rematch In MMA After PFL News at MMA News.

Olympic gold medalist Jordan Burroughs talks wrestling against Ben Askren: “Idols become rivals.”

All-time freestyle wrestling great Jordan Burroughs wrestled against MMA fighter Ben Askren in 2019. Both Burroughs and Askren are accomplished wrestlers who have represented the United States in the Olympics. Before he was a world champion in Bellator and ONE Championship, Askren was a highly touted folkstyle collegiate wrestler. In 2008, he wrestled on the […]

Before he was a world champion in Bellator and ONE Championship, Askren was a highly touted folkstyle collegiate wrestler. In 2008, he wrestled on the US Olympic team as a freestyle wrestler. The 2008 team also included names that MMA fans would easily recognize such as Henry Cejudo and Daniel Cormier.

Jordan Burroughs is considered one of the all-time great wrestlers in freestyle history. Representing the USA he has earned six gold medals in Wrestling World Championships, first place in NCAA Division I wrestling in three competitions, plus an Olympics gold medal in 2012.

In 2019, Askren and Burroughs met on the mat in an official wrestling match for charity.

Jordan Burroughs on wrestling Ben Askren in 2019

New Jersey born wrestler Jordan Burroughs recently sat down with Joe Rogan for an interview on his career. During their discussion, the topic of UFC fighter Ben Askren came up. Jordan Burroughs said Askren was a wrestler that he always had looked up to. Burroughs explained:

“I respect Ben [Askren] a ton. Wrestling Askren. I was in college in 2008 when he was on the Olympic team going to Beijing. I was on the junior world team. I was 20 years old at the time. He was the Olympian so I was like ‘Damn, that’s Ben Askren, like yo look who it is!’ Super cool for me to have that experience.”

Burroughs fondly recalls:

“I remember he took me for a ride to Wal-Mart in his Prius and he let me sit shotgun. From that day on I idolized him. You get to the point where idols become rivals. This guy is doing extremely well in the MMA world. He is a former wrestler but he still has his hand in wrestling.”

On the charity showdown in 2019, Burroughs is proud of how great of a turnout it created, he continued:

“It was a lot of fun. We drew a ton of fans. We sold out the Hulu theatre in Time Square.”

On his dream wrestling matchups, Burroughs listed:

“I want to roll with Conor [McGregor]. It’s probably my dream guy that just like get my hands on and feel a little bit. I think it would be fun. GSP.”

See the full interview below: