Former Bellator MMA world champion Ben Askren took his long-standing feud with Jorge Masvidal one step further, challenging ‘Gamebred’ to run back their brief encounter at UFC 239.
Masvidal delivered one of the most-watched highlights in combat sports history that night, scoring an unbelievable five-second flying knee knockout against Aksren. ‘Funky’ was never quite the same after the loss and exited the promotion after coming up short against Lyoto Machida three months later.
Now four years removed from their quick clash at the T-Mobile Arena, the two men are interested in squaring off once again. Recently, Masvidal suggested that one fight that could drag him away from his pseudo-retirement would be a boxing match with Ben Askren. It didn’t take long for ‘Funky’ to reply, brandishing a screenshot of a text he sent to UFC President Dana White regarding the proposed rematch.
“Balls in your court mr BMF,” Askren tweeted whilst suggesting that he wants the bout to go down inside the Octagon rather than the squared circle.
Askren made that abundantly clear in a follow-up tweet, saying:
“No I’m not gonna box Jorge. If Jorge was really a BMF he will accept a rematch in MMA and not be a coward.”
No I’m not gonna box Jorge. If Jorge was really a BMF he will accept a rematch in MMA and not be a coward. https://t.co/d9UDZsEZ1h
— Funky (@Benaskren) July 25, 2023
Askren also noted that he has stayed in tip-top shape since his retirement from the sport in 2019.
“I’ve kept in great shape during retirement,” he wrote. “I have zero desire to fight anyone except that loser Jorge.”
I’ve kept in great shape during retirement. I have zero desire to fight anyone except that loser Jorge. pic.twitter.com/T5y4QI9GAZ
— Funky (@Benaskren) July 25, 2023
Before turning to MMA, Ben Askren made a name for himself as a two-time Division I NCAA national wrestling champion and as a member of the 2008 U.S. Olympic team. A year later, he parlayed that success into a stellar career inside the cage, capturing the Bellator welterweight championship the same year he debuted. Askren went on to defend the title four times before exiting the promotion.
From there, ‘Funky’ made his way to the Asia-based organization ONE Championship. Askren picked up right where he left off, capturing the ONE welterweight world title in his second appearance. He defended the title multiple times but was forced to vacate the crown when he was traded to the UFC in exchange for flyweight GOAT Demetrious Johnson.
Akren never replicated the success he had elsewhere inside the Octagon. He earned a first-round submission against ‘Ruthless’ Robbie Lawler in his promotional debut, but he would go on to drop his next two bouts en route to retirement.
