LAS VEGAS – The UFC is looking to book a rematch between Ben Askren and Robbie Lawler at UFC 235, but one side isn’t down.
Askren’s (19-0 MMA, 1-0 UFC) highly anticipated UFC debut ended in controversial fashion when he locked in a bulldog choke on Lawler that seemingly put him out cold. Right when referee Herb Dean stepped in, though, the former UFC champ popped up immediately and protested the finish.
Before the unfortunate ending, the fight was utter chaos as Lawler nearly finished the former Bellator and ONE Championship titleholder in the first minute. Askren somehow rallied back and got himself into position for a submission hold, which appeared to get the job done.
What could have been a beautiful comeback quickly devolved from that, though, and afterward UFC President Dana White told TSN.com that he to see a conclusive finish via a rematch.
“We’ve got to do the rematch on that one, it’s only fair,” White said, “(Askren) looked rough. It’s hard to come into the UFC for your first fight and shine and look great. It’s not easy. I don’t care who you are, or where you’ve been, or what you’ve done. This is a tough stage to come onto for the first time.”
White wants the rematch, and so does Lawler. But Askren doesn’t appear quite as interested. He said he’s flyweight to London later this month for the UFC on ESPN+ 5 headliner between Darren Till (17-1-1 MMA, 5-1-1 UFC) and Jorge Masvidal (32-13 MMA, 9-6 UFC), and he’s interested in fighting the winner.
“I pass (on a rematch),” Askren told reporters, including MMAjunkie, at the UFC 235 post-fight news conference. “I guess we’ll have that discussion. I would like to fight the winner of Till vs. Masvidal, I think that makes a whole lot of sense where the division is concerned. I didn’t really want to fight Robbie in the first place. The first matchup they offered I said yes. I did that.”
For complete coverage of UFC 235, check out the UFC Events section of the site.
