“But now everybody tries to talk and promote these things, but you have to compete in the UFC, then we’re gonna see his levels.”
Khabib Nurmagomedov isn’t sold on Ben Askren.
Speaking to Submission Radio in a recent interview, the reigning UFC lightweight champion said Askren (18-0-1 MMA) needs to win a few fights under the UFC banner before calling out the entire roster.
“He never fight in the UFC,” Nurmagomedov said. “He has to fight in the UFC first of all. He has to show his levels because I see how someone smash him in ONE FC. Somebody like smashed him in ONE FC. He just signed to the UFC and tried talk, you know.
“But now everybody tries to talk and promote these things, but you have to compete in the UFC, then we’re gonna see his levels.”
Askren, the former ONE FC and Bellator welterweight champion, will make his UFC debut against seasoned veteran Robbie Lawler at UFC 235. The highly anticipated pay-per-view, which is expected to feature a headlining light heavyweight championship bout between Jon Jones and Anthony Smith, takes place later this year, March 2nd at the T-Mobile Arena in Las Vegas, Nevada.
Khabib, who submitted Conor McGregor at UFC 229 to defend his lightweight title, is expected to meet with the Nevada Athletic Commission on Tuesday, Jan. 29, over his post-fight brawl at T-Mobile Arena.
