UFC
UFC's Dana White on Ben Askren: "If he keeps winning, he could get a shot over here"
Aug 31, 2014 - 5:45:28 PM UFC's Dana White on Ben Askren: "If he keeps winning, he could get a shot over here"

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By: Jamie Penick, MMATorch Editor-in-Chief

When the UFC opted not to sign Ben Askren earlier this year, the former Bellator Welterweight Champion went to ONE FC, and rightfully blasted the UFC in the process.

Despite that, Askren's continued success has UFC President Dana White opening up to the idea of bringing Askren in.

"I think if he keeps winning, he could get a shot over here,” White said after UFC 177 on Saturday night (via MMAJunkie.com). "Listen, Ben Askren said a lot of stupid sh-t when he left, but I don't care about stuff like that. I [couldn't] care less about any of that. We'll see how the kid fights, what he keeps doing, and we'll go from there. Contrary to popular belief – well, no, I do hold grudges if you're a real idiot. Yeah, I'll hold a grudge until the day I drop dead."

"But with fighters, I don't really do that with fighters. These guys are built differently than everybody. They're tough, man, and this is what they do for a living, and they're going to say stuff like that. If Tito [Ortiz] could come back to the UFC, anybody can come in here. Believe me, because there's nobody on earth I hated more than Tito. And Tito came back. You don't have to like them to do business with them. So we'll see."

Of course, it will take Askren being interested in the UFC at this point, which may not necessarily be the case given his reaction to White's comments.

Oh thank you master @danawhite can I please have a shot

— Ben Askren (@Benaskren) August 31, 2014

Penick's Analysis: The UFC's arguments for not bringing Askren in earlier this year were completely asinine, and given the level of some of the fighters they've brought in since snubbing Askren, that's only been compounded. Askren absolutely belongs in the UFC's welterweight division, and though there's some heat there on both sides, it would only make sense for him to find his way to the UFC eventually. Hopefully it can come together in the next year or two, but there's clearly work yet to be done to make that a realistic possibility.