Ben Askren had been trying to get into the UFC for years. Back in 2013, when he left Bellator as its undefeated welterweight champion, Askren was spurned. UFC president Dana White said publicly that Askren wasn’t ready for the UFC and he should go to a smaller promotion like World Series of Fighting to gain some more seasoning.
Undaunted, Askren didn’t give in to what very well might have been a White negotiating tactic. He went elsewhere, signing a pretty lucrative deal with Singapore’s ONE Championship.
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Askren retired after seven fights with ONE last year, retaining his undefeated record and stepping away once again as champion.