BY MICHAEL OWENS
Following his release from Bellator there was only one thing on Ben Askren’s mind: fighting in the UFC.
The outspoken former Olympian has his sights set on the best fighters at 170 pounds to prove that he is the best in the world.
Speaking to Ariel Helwani on The MMA Hour over at mmafighting.com, Askren admitted he had offers to extend his Bellator contract.
He was also offered a a payday from World Series of Fighting, but there was only one organisation that was going to satisfy his hunger for elite competition.
“Bjorn made me a couple offers, and they weren’t bad offers and Bellator isn’t a bad company, but my main reason why I got into the sport of mixed martial arts was to be number one in the world,” he said.
“What I kept telling Bjorn was, hey, I’m number six in the world, I want to fight numbers five, four, three, two, one right now.
“All those people are the UFC and that is only place to accomplish that.”
Despite this drive, his athletic pedigree and perfect 12-0 MMA record, UFC president Dana White said he had no interest in signing the former Bellator welterweight champion in the aftermath of UFC 167 on Saturday.
However, the 29-year-old was still reasonably confident about grabbing a spot on the most high-profile roster of fighters in the business.
“My management is going to be hopefully go to Vegas meet with Lorenzo and Dana this week,” he said.
“Once that happens I’ll have better idea where they actually stand.”
Despite not signing for the UFC, the famously brash Askren has frequently called out UFC fighters in the past, particularly GSP.
He also took the opportunity presented by Monday’s interview to called out one of the UFC’s most polarising figures.
“Rory MacDonald is a guy who really irks me,” he said. “He bugs me.
“It was really nice to see him get knocked off his pedestal Saturday night.”
The former champion wrestler was so confident in his ability that he even offered to fight the Canadian for free, and he’d retire if he lost.
