VIDEO | Ben Askren calls out ‘chicken’ Jorge Masvidal for UFC 238

“Here’s the deal, [UFC President] Dana [White] came out and said this morning they’re looking to do me and [Jorge] Masvidal,” Ben Askren said in a video he posted on his social media accounts. “I heard that. I said yes last week. It didn’t take me more than 10 seconds to say, ‘Of course, Jorge. Let’s do this. You think you’re a gangster,’

“Well, now I’m starting to hear he’s getting cold feet, he doesn’t want to do it, he doesn’t want to fight because he’s scared. Jorge! Just tell the people. Are you scared? If you’re scared, I will move on to somebody else. If you’re not scared, June 8, Chicago. I’m free, you’re free, let’s do this.

“It’s really simple,” He continued. “The winner’s probably going to get a title shot, Jorge, so there’s quite a bit on the line and I think it would be in your best interest to stop being a chicken and just. Say. Yes.”

After a successful yet controversial UFC debut victory at UFC 235 over Robbie Lawler, ‘Funky’ Ben Askren is onto whatever may be next.

Shortly following his win, top welterweight contenders Darren Till and Jorge Masvidal met in London. Askren had his eye on the winner of this bout as soon as his UFC debut concluded.

It would end up being ‘Gamebred’ who put the Brit out cold in just the second round of their main event encounter.

Now it has cleared the way for an Askren vs Masvidal fight despite Masvidal and Leon Edwards’ backstage beef that followed UFC London.

As UFC 238 continues to shape up, the fight would be a fantastic addition to an already quality looking card in its early stages. Along with the five fights below, a bantamweight title bout between Marlon Moraes and flyweight champion, Henry Cejudo is in the works.

• Flyweight – 125lbs: (C)Valentina Shevchenko vs. Jessica Eye
• Strawweight – 115lbs: Tatiana Suarez vs. Nina Ansaroff
• Flyweight: Katlyn Chookagian vs. Joanne Calderwood
• Heavyweight – 207-265lbs: Tai Tuivasa vs. Blagoy Ivanov
• Strawweight: Felice Herrig vs Yan Xiaonan

This article first appeared on BJPenn.com on 3/26/2019