Ben Askren has been using social media to challenge many UFC stars, but he’s not calling out the one with the most money.
Ben Askren is suddenly on the lips of many UFC fighters. The former Bellator and ONE Championship welterweight titleholder seemed to be retired, but a very unique “trade” with ONE will apparently see him being able to sign with the UFC in exchange for Demetrious Johnson. And a lot of people will be gunning for the Funky one.
Askren has never been afraid to use social media to advance his interests, and as soon as the news leaked, he started calling out fighters on Twitter. Jorge Masvidal had a few things to say. There was a back-and-forth with Darren Till. Askren told Alan Jouban to go back to modeling. Then he got to the big fish - namely, Georges St-Pierre, the Diaz brothers, and Khabib Nurmagomedov:
"Ben Askren
✔@Benaskren
Hey @GeorgesStPierre please name your terms of engagement!!! Who would you like me to beat up or how many twitter followers would you like me to have. You name it’s done. Then I’ll see you in Montreal.
9:57 AM - Oct 26, 2018"
But @GeorgesStPierre please be specific, ambiguity sucks. I know you like a challenge and I am a puzzle you have never solved yet.
9:58 AM - Oct 26, 2018
Hey @nickdiaz209 word is you blew all your money and need to fight again. I realize you haven’t won a bout since 2011, but people still seem to think you are good. I’m willing to show them otherwise!
10:05 AM - Oct 26, 2018
And @NateDiaz209 you can’t keep waiting on your sugar daddy @TheNotoriousMMA to make you some more money. If big bro lets you out of the house and your feeling funky holler at me
10:11 AM - Oct 26, 2018
And @TeamKhabib I’ll meet you at 165 to determine the best MMA grappler on planet earth! You just name the time and send location.
10:46 AM - Oct 26, 2018
There was one name he hadn’t brought up though, and it seemed a little fishy. But Askren, in his own unique way, eventually got around to one Conor McGregor. By “not” calling him out:
"Ben Askren
✔@Benaskren
Obviously I have called out @TheNotoriousMMA yet, but you know he has way too much money to take one of the whippings I’m giving out. So why bother?
10:19 PM - Oct 26, 2018"
He wasn’t done though, taking another shot at the Diaz brothers after that:
"Ben Askren
✔@Benaskren
Ok to make it fair I’ll fight both @NateDiaz209 and @nickdiaz209 in a handicap 5 round bout. Nate takes odd rounds and Nick evens. I still don’t lose a round
1:49 AM - Oct 27, 2018
And I’m sure he name-dropping will continue until the undefeated Askren (18-0, 1 NC) actually has a fight booked.
