Bellator works in mysterious ways, evident with the release of undefeated welterweight champion Ben Askren (12-0). Askren is now an unrestricted free agent after Bellator released the undefeated welterweight. The Bellator Welterweight World Title will be vacant until Douglas Lima faces the winner of the Season 9 Welterweight Tournament later this winter when the new Bellator Welterweight Champion will be crowned.
“I’ve said it many times, Ben’s a completely one-dimensional fighter who is utterly dominant in that dimension,” Bellator Chairman & CEO Bjorn Rebney said. “I had a number of discussions with Ben and it became clear it was time for both parties to move in different directions. We’ve relinquished any right to match here and Ben can sign with whoever he chooses to sign with. Ben’s been at Bellator since the start of his career, I respect him and what he’s accomplished and wish him the best wherever he goes.”
When former (now current) Bellator lightweight champion Eddie Alvarez (25-3) sought to join the UFC following the completition of his Bellator contract in 2012, the promotion reserved the right to match the UFC’s offer, thus dragging Alvarez into a gruelling court battle of which resulted in both parties seemingly resolving their issues, and Alvarez resumed competition with Bellator after a 13-month absence.
Oddly, the promotion have waved the right to match any offer for Askren, their now former champion, despite strong rumours that he’s set for a place on the UFC roster. Bellator CEO Bjorn Rebney had previously stated that Askren would be allowed to leave for the UFC on the condition that he’d be granted a championship bout with UFC welterweight king Georges St-Pierre. UFC president Dana White responded, claiming he had no interest in Bellator’s “mind games” and questioned why a promotion would release their champion.
In contrast to Alvarez, Askren has faced a degree of scrutiny for his “one-dimensional” fighting style, which may have influenced Bellator’s decicion to simply let him go. As a former Olympic freestyle wrestler and BJJ brown belt, the American’s offense is highly grappling orientated, yet clinical, displayed most recently with a TKO victory at Bellator 97 against Andrey Koreshkov (13-1).
Photo: Bellator
