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SINGAPORE, SINGAPORE – OCTOBER 26: Ben Askren prepares to enter the Octagon prior to his welterweight bout against Demian Maia of Brazil during the UFC Fight Night event at Singapore Indoor Stadium on October 26, 2019 in Singapore. (Photo by Jeff Bottari/Zuffa LLC via Getty Images)

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SINGAPORE, SINGAPORE – OCTOBER 26: Ben Askren prepares to enter the Octagon prior to his welterweight bout against Demian Maia of Brazil during the UFC Fight Night event at Singapore Indoor Stadium on October 26, 2019 in Singapore. (Photo by Jeff Bottari/Zuffa LLC via Getty Images)
One of the most hyped-up matches of 2021 is here. Controversial YouTuber Jake Paul is set to fight former ONE Championship and Bellator MMA welterweight champion Ben Askren. They’ll fight in Atlanta, Georgia, on the 17th of April.
Askren spoke to Mike Bohn from MMA Junkie ahead of the fight and revealed his plans after the match. Bohn asked him if this would be a one-and-done thing, and Askren replied with no. Well, kind of.
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“I will say that the caveat because I always hate when people say that there’s no chance and then they come back, and you’re like yeah, but you told us there’s no chance,” he said.
So, what is his actual answer? Will he actually come back after this fight? Askren said that there’s a small chance. He said, “So, here’s what I’m telling you. I’m telling you there’s a small chance. I mean, who thought I was gonna box Jake Paul?”
Ben Askren reveals why he took the Jake Paul fight and came out of retirement.
Askren revealed that he took the fight because he wanted to get in shape and because the money was good. He had just had his hip surgery, and hence a fight would be a good reason to get back in shape. He also thought that it was an enjoyable opportunity.
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LAS VEGAS, NEVADA – MARCH 02: Ben Askren celebrates his submission victory over Robbie Lawler in their welterweight bout during the UFC 235 event at T-Mobile Arena on March 2, 2019, in Las Vegas, Nevada. (Photo by Chris Unger/Zuffa LLC/Zuffa LLC via Getty Images)
“Someone was offering me a whole bunch of money, and I thought, hey, that’s a fun opportunity. For this one, it was like, ‘Oh, that’s a lot of money’, and I need a reason to get back in shape. Let’s do it. So, if something like that were to happen, I probably would. I don’t know, I just think the chance is small,” he concluded.
It will be a really interesting fight, and the outcome might have some serious ramifications for the perception of MMA in the modern world. If Jake Paul wins this fight, it won’t be a good look for mixed martial arts. However, Askren is no pushover, and he will show his caliber and pull through to beat Jake Paul.
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Do you think Jake Paul can beat Ben Askren?
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