UFC interested in Ben Askren, not pursuing Paul Daley

UFC President Dana White said his promotion may very well be interested in Bellator welterweight champion and current free agent Ben Askren (12-0 MMA, 9-0 BFC):

“We’ll talk to Ben,” White said following Thursday’s pre-UFC Fight Night 26 press conference. “Yeah, we’ll talk to him.”

The four-time collegiate All-American wrestler, Askren, began his MMA career in 2009, going 3-0 on the regional circuit before signing with the Bellator promotion. Since defeating Lyman Good to earn the Bellator welterweight strap, Askren has defended his belt four times.

Askren’s latest effort saw him score a TKO victory over Andrey Koreshkov at last month’s Bellator 97 event in New Mexico. The win served as Askren’s second stoppage victory in a row, this after having won six straight fights by decision.

Dana White was also asked to comment on the possibility of signing knockout artist Paul Daley (33-12-2 MMA), who fought three times under the UFC banner before being released after a post-fight suckerpunch of Josh Koscheck at UFC 113 in Montreal.

“I think I’ve been pretty clear about where I am on Paul Daley,” said White. “I’m not saying that Paul Daley couldn’t change. But what he did, he was only guy that’s ever done that in the history of the UFC, our UFC since we’ve been here, literally walked over after you’ve just fought a guy for 15 minutes, it’s all legal, you can do whatever you want, and after the fight he walks over and suckerpunches him in the face. I hate it.”

“I’m not saying that he couldn’t be forgiven and it couldn’t change, but he’d have to win some fights and… I don’t know what he’d have to do. I’m not there though.”

Would you like to see Ben Askren join the UFC roster? Let’s hear it Penn Nation!