ONE Welterweight Champion Ben Askren says his time competing in MMA is coming to an end.
“I always said I’d be done by 30 (and) I’m 32,” Askren told The Kansas City Star. “I always read a lot of athletic books from all genres, and no one ever quits on time. I never want to be that guy who everyone is telling them, ‘Stop, you’re done, you’re so much worse than you used to be.’”
Askren was later asked in the interview if he contemplates going to the UFC once his contract with ONE expires.
“For me? No. I’m done. No. I’m going to be retired not too far off in the near future.”
Askren later expressed his feeling towards UFC President Dana White.
“(Dana White) is a really, really, really terrible person. He’s a really bad person. He’s got some mommy or daddy issues. (He’s got) something deep inside of him that he’s got to deal with.”
Askren is currently undefeated with 15 wins. He is also a former Bellator welterweight champion. He left the promotion without using the title. In total, Askren has seven title victories. He has notable career wins over Lyman Good, Jay Hieron, Andrey Koreshkov, and current Bellator Welterweight Champion Douglas Lima.
Askren is expected to defend his ONE welterweight title on April 21 in Manila. ONE has yet to announce Askren’s opponent.
