Dana White Says Askren vs. Lawler Rematch Is On
Last night (Sat., March 2, 2019) from inside T-Mobile Arena in Las Vegas, Nevada, a former Bellator MMA, and ONE Championship king Ben Askren made his UFC debut against former UFC welterweight champion Robbie Lawler in the main card of UFC 235 but unfortunately for ‘Ruthless’ things didn’t go as planned, with Askren endured a brutal early onslaught en route to a controversial first-round submission win.
Askren was in trouble early on when Lawler picked ‘Funky’ up whacked him down brutally and nailed with barrages of punches in the opening moment of the fight. But Askren recovers through that assault and secured a bulldog choke; it was such a terrible angle for referee Herb Dean to see what’s going on. Dean stopped the fight immediately thinking ‘Ruthless’ was unconscious, but former UFC champ was totally fine. Lawler went back on his feet and said something to referee Herb, who realized that he made a mistake.
Speaking to TSN’s Aaron Bronsteter after UFC 235, UFC president Dana White addressed the controversial finish and it seems he was bit disappointed. (h/t BloodyElbow)
“I think the ref made a bad decision,” White said. “That takes nothing away from the fact that he was able to get Robbie Lawler down in that position.”
White is planning on to book a rematch between Askren and Lawler.
“We gotta do the rematch on that one,” White said. “It’s only fair.”
“The rematch should be great.”
Lawler said at the post-fight presser that he’s open to a rematch, but Askren seems not on board with the idea said ‘i pass’ on to that.
Whatever was the reason, Dana White wasn’t too pleased with “Funky’s” Octagon debut.
“It’s tough to come into the UFC for your first fight and shine and look great,” White said. “It’s not easy. I don’t care who you are, who you think you are, where you’ve been, or what you’ve done. This is a tough stage to come onto for the first time.”
How many of you want to see an immediate rematch between Askren and Lawler?
