Upon retiring from MMA last year as the ONE welterweight champion, Ben Askren left the door open for a return to the sport, with UFC now emerging as a likely destination. This scenario gained traction last week when a historic trade between ONE Championship and UFC saw Askren and longtime champion Demetrious Johnson released to explore opportunities elsewhere.
This trade marked a groundbreaking moment in sports history. Askren, an accomplished wrestler hailing from Missouri with All-American and NCAA titles, expressed his desire to restructure his contract and make his UFC partnership official following this move. He mentioned that there is a short amount of time remaining on his current contract.
Expectations are now high for Askren’s return to the Octagon in 2019, with the likelihood of multiple fights against different opponents. His first potential matchup could be against former UFC welterweight champion and renowned MMA fighter Georges St-Pierre.
While St-Pierre has not fought since November and vacated his title months later, he recently stated his intention to stage a comeback only for significant fights with a strong legacy. A potential clash between him and Askren is seen as one of these high-profile matchups that could materialize in the future.
