Ben Askren makes his ONE FC mixed martial arts debut in Singapore on May 30, and will be looking to extend his 12-0 career record as one of the top welterweights to ever get into the cage. (JG Photo/Yudhi Sukma Wijaya)
As mixed martial arts takes hold in Asia, the world’s top fighters are turning to the continent to raise their profile — and former Bellator welterweight champion Ben Askren is right there with them.
Askren, a former Olympic wrestler and undefeated in 12 career MMA fights, signed a two-year contract with Asia’s largest MMA organization, ONE Fighting Championship, last December and is set to make his debut at the “ONE FC: Honor & Glory” event in Singapore on May 30 against Azerbaijan’s Bakhtiyar Abbasov.
“It’s been great, I trained hard, I’ve had a lot of good fighters to train with and good coaches,” Askren, who won the 2008 US freestyle wrestling championship, said during a public workout on Wednesday.
“So I’m excited about my fight.”
Askren’s deal with ONE FC commits him to six fights across Asia, and the former University of Missouri wrestler expressed his excitement to perform in front of his Asian fans.
“The last couple of ONE FC shows have been huge, especially the one in Manila last May, when the stadium was packed,” the 29-year-old said.
“MMA is really growing in Asia. I’m excited to be part of that. It will be my first fight in Asia. The tickets are going be sold out. I don’t think MMA would make a quite big difference [after I moved from Bellator to ONE FC], but I’ll be proud to fight in front of my fans in Singapore. I think I will offer my wrestling style, the ONE FC hasn’t seen yet. So I’m so excited to show the fans what I have.”
Askren also shared his excitement about fighting overseas for the first time and his effort in adjusting with the new decision.
“I’m still living in the States but I’m gonna spend my time in Evolve MMA academy in Singapore. That’s going to be my Asian home for MMA,” he said.
“I just feel it’s kind of important to get here and get used to the culture and everything else before I fight. No, it’s not hard. My wife will come over in the next couple of weeks so I’m gonna have my family here as well.”
Speaking of his opponent, Askren said he was confident about winning against Abbasov, who has an 11-2 MMA record.
“I think [Abbasov] is tough but I don’t think he has fought in as good competition as I’ve fought. I’ve fought some really good guys. So I’m excited about my fight. Of course [I’m confident I can win], I never stepped in a cage and lost my confidence,” Askren said.
Fight organizers said that having a fighter of Askren’s pedigree and caliber on the card boosted the credibility of ONE FC amid the scrum of MMA organizations vying for prominence.
“He is a humble fighter. He holds a 12-0 record and is probably the best welterweight MMA fighter in the world,” said Loren Mack, ONE FC’s director of public relations. “He ranks among the best. He has never lost a round, let alone a fight. Nobody can handle him. He’s that quick in the ring. He came all the way from North America and trained in a world-renowned MMA school in Singapore, Evolve. He is the headline for the May 30 event.”
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