UFC
Dana White claims people close to Ben Askren say he "doesn't want to fight in the big show", Askren laughs it off
Nov 21, 2014 - 11:35:24 AM Dana White claims people close to Ben Askren say he "doesn't want to fight in the big show", Askren laughs it off

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By: Jamie Penick, MMATorch Editor-in-Chief

Ben Askren's absence from the UFC's welterweight roster remains a topic of conversation into 2015, and UFC President Dana White was asked about it during an appearance on TSN's Off The Record program this week.

Askren, the former Bellator Champion, signed with ONE FC after getting his release from Bellator. The UFC opted not to make him an offer despite his status as one of the most highly regarded welterweights outside of the organization, and this week White tried to twist that onto Askren.

"I don't hate him. He's signed with somebody else out in Asia. He's fighting, he's got a contract," White said (transcribed by Mike Bohn on Twitter). "The thing is with Ben Askren, I've talked to some people that are closer to Ben Askren than me, and they've told me straight up that they truly believe that he doesn't want to fight in the big show and that's why he does the things that he does. True or not, I don't know. But that's the story."

Askren laughed it off on Twitter in response:

@MikeBohnMMA lol whatever he needs to tell himself to feel good :)

— Ben Askren (@Benaskren) November 18, 2014

Penick's Analysis: While Askren has been outspoken against White and the UFC, it's ridiculous to suggest he "doesn't want to fight in the big show." To use that as an excuse is asinine because the UFC didn't even offer him a deal. Askren has an idea of what he thinks he's worth, and he's deserving of that given his credentials and how dominant he's been to this point in his career. He could be a force if given the opportunity in the Octagon, and it's the UFC - not Askren - who have kept that from happening.