Why did the UFC and Bellator blacklist Ben Askren?

Dozer .

Dozer .

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Was he so boring that the two biggest MMA organizations (former Bellator champ) didn’t even wanna speak and sign Ben Askren?

Without a record of 18-0, you would think that the two biggest MMA organizations would be fighting to sign him.
 
Has the skills to be top-tier in either organization... Just needed to keep his mouth shut... we might have found out.
 
Ya. Its a strange situation. Maybe he demanded to much money.
 
The money he asks for probably doesn’t put the asses in seats
 
Ben failed at career management. Play the game, get the belt, then say what you feel.
 
Askren reminds me of Gaethje, where his undefeated streak is a benefit of being in the minor leagues.

If Bellator ends up getting MacDonald-Askren done, I think it'll confirm that Askren was a top fighter, but he was never the best.
 
kalabula said:
Ya. Its a strange situation. Maybe he demanded to much money.
Click to expand...
That and guaranteed #1 contender status, no fights just a b-line to the title, Bellator made rory/moose/Davis all fight contender matches before title fights and the ufc has obviously more depth, but retirement Ben is somehow special.
 
I don't think he was black listed but I do think he is a dominant fighter in a very non exciting way. John Fitch was really hated for his wrestling style and Askren is a better version of his style. It's kind of a catch 22 for me, I like dominant fighters but I do find the wrestlers like that sometimes boring, it's great to see someone like Askren completely shut someone down but its also great to see people getting punched in the face hahaha.
 
His fights are typically boring as fuck and he runs his mouth and talks shit to the promoters. Plain and simple healthy stupid and fucked his own career by being a take no shot dick.
 
Simply too good along with not being a yes man.
 
He was good enough, technically, to act like an asshole, but he wasn't exciting enough to get away with acting like an asshole.

Deep down I suspect he knows the truth.
 
The UFC tried to lowball him thinking he would only go to UFC or WSOF. ONE offered more, he retired an undefeated WW champion. The hardcores all know who he is.

Id say he's done pretty well. Probably retired more wealthy and healthy than Fitch, Shields and Hughes.
 
He's not worth the headache

He complains about how the UFC market their fighters and isn't even signed with them.

Not sure why people think the UFC would bend over backwards for a guy with a boring style and shitty attitude
 
The UFC should have signed him but Dana didn't like him and was probably afraid he'd beat more marketable fighters.

He made a mistake when he told Bellator he wasn't going to sign with them before trying to sign with UFC. If he had been negotiating with both at the same time Dana would have offered him a contract just to "win" the negotiation and steal Bellator's champion.
 
Dozer . said:
Was he so boring that the two biggest MMA organizations (former Bellator champ) didn’t even wanna speak and sign Ben Askren?

Without a record of 18-0, you would think that the two biggest MMA organizations would be fighting to sign him.
Click to expand...

Mainly its because he thinks of himself as super valuable and wanted more than he was worth. That's my best guess. That and he talked shit about Dana which is a bad idea.
 
Money he wants wouldn’t make sense in a business sense.
 
To be fair, Ben didn't have anything else to do in Bellator when he left, his plan was to get into the UFC and set up shop, but that didn't happen. He ended up signing a long-term, very lucrative deal with One, and he finished that contract somewhat recently, after flirting with retirement. Coker said that he doesn't want to sign him because he fears that Askren might be one and done (didn't stop him from signing Dada, Royce, Bonnar, etc.) And his beef with Dana never ended.

@Meathead Jock can shed light on any subject regarding Benedict.
 
His nickname is literally "smoke break" How is this even up for debate?
 
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