Askren was not signed to the UFC for a reason.
I can't think of another time in MMA where an org released a reigning champion without even offering him a contract. (As I recall).
Ben was very dominant position wise in his wins but there were literally times in his fights where I got the impression that he was trying NOT to finish.
I remember watching an Askren fight (late in his Bellator run, I forget the opponent) and it was crystal clear that a flurry would end the fight, the opponent was doing nothing and the ref was looking for ANY justification for a stoppage and Ben just kept focusing on wrist control and throwing a shot every once in a while that did zero damage, literally doing just enough to not get stood up with no intention to finish.
I didn't want to sit through that during UFC PPVs and Ben was talented enough that he may have been able to wet blanket decent fighters which would have ruined their momentum. It was a lose lose for the UFC. What would the upside have been? A few, very few hardcores get to see if Ben could hang and everyone else (and maybe even those hardcores too) would be bored to death? I don't blame the UFC for passing on Ben.
