Lawler (left) and Askren (right) are scheduled to face each other in January. Photo: Montagem SL MMA Press
Ben Askren arrived in the UFC last week and is set to debut in the Octagon in a big challenge. The undefeated welterweight will face the former champion Robbie Lawler at UFC 233, an event that takes place on January 23, in Anaheim (USA). Information about the fight was released by ESPN in the USA and should be made official by the organization in the coming days.
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After the announcement by the North American broadcaster, Ben Askren used his Twitter account to provoke the division rivals. “A lot of welterweights breathing a sigh of relief right now. Don’t worry: your time will come!”, he wrote on the microblog.
Lots of welterweights breathing easy right about now. Don't worry your times will come! https://t.co/8xDJwIC7VZ
- Ben Askren (@Benaskren) November 6th, 2018
Askren is undefeated in MMA with 18 wins in 18 appearances. The former Olympic wrestler was Bellator champion until 2013, when he signed with the Asian event One FC. He had seven fights on the show and won them all. Without opponents, the American announced his retirement in 2017. However, after an unprecedented negotiation in the history of MMA, the UFC traded the former flyweight champion Demetrious Johnson with One to have the contract rights to Ben. Now, 'Funky', as he is known, will be able to make his debut in the World Cup organization at the age of 34.
In turn, Lawler, who was welterweight champion until 2016, has a professional record of 28 wins and 12 losses. The 36-year-old American is coming off a defeat in his last fight, when he was overcome by the Brazilian Rafael dos Anjosin December 2017.
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