Ben Askren is willing to run things back with Jorge Masvidal – but not in a boxing ring.
Masvidal famously knocked out Askren with a flying knee in just five seconds at UFC 239 in July 2019, setting the record for the fastest knockout in company history. Now, with both men currently retired, Masvidal said he’s down to fight Askren in the ring.
“I heard Ben Askren said he’d come out of retirement to fight me,” Masvidal told TMZ. “He wanted MMA but for his sake, I’d do boxing so I can’t knee him in the face. It’s illegal, duh. Come on, man (laughs). Hey, Ben, I’ll beat your ass with both hands behind my back. Ben’s so bad at boxing.
“He’s the one that said it. Look, Ben, I’ll only give you the rematch in boxing, motherf*cker. People will tune in because I can’t knee him in the face, right? Maybe Ben can ‘get his way now.’ Hey, Ben, kiss my ass. You coming out of retirement, I’ll send you right back into it, motherf*cker. This guy, bro. They shouldn’t have shown me that comment, you corny motherf*cker.”
The spectacular finish skyrocketed Masvidal’s career into superstardom, and Askren has always wanted to run things back. “Gamebred” finally accepted but prefers they laced up the boxing gloves, something Askren is opposed to.
Askren wants to get his revenge in MMA and even reached out to Dana White to try and make it happen.
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
“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.”
“I’ve kept in great shape during retirement. I have zero desire to fight anyone except that loser Jorge.”
Askren, a former Bellator and ONE Championship title holder at 170 pounds, is one of the best wrestling specialists in MMA history. Never known for his stand-up striking, he went 1-2 after joining the UFC in 2019.
Askren made his professional boxing debut against Jake Paul in April 2021, when he was knocked out by the YouTuber in just under two minutes.
