Tag: Ben Askren

Jake Paul has date with real fighter, former UFC star Ben Askren

Jake Paul reportedly will face former UFC star Ben Askren on April 17.

Jake Paul might’ve bitten off more than he can chew.

The YouTube personality, who knocked out retired NBA player Nate Robinson in November, will face an actual fighter – former MMA star Ben Askren – in an eight-round boxing match on April 17, ESPN is reporting.

Paul is 2-0 as a boxer. Askren, 36, will be taking part in his first boxing match.

“I know Jake Paul is enjoying pretending he is a fighter,” Askren said, according to ESPN. “I think on April 17 he is going to have a rude awakening to what being a fighter is really like. Jake has led a privileged life and doesn’t really know what the meaning of being a fighter is.

“I’m going to put his dreams to an end.”

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Paul is predicting a knockout.

“Ben Askren is a two-time NCAA champion, a world champion in two different global mixed martial arts organizations and has less losses on his record than Conor McGregor,” Paul said.

“Me, on the other hand, I started boxing two years ago and I’m still going to knock his ass out faster than [Jorge] Masvidal.

“These MMA guys think because they throw punches they know how to box. The world complained because I knocked out a basketball player and not a real fighter. So now I’m giving the people what they want by taking on a ‘real fighter.’

“After Ben Askren is added to my knockout meme collection, what can anybody say? Thank you to Triller Fight Club for giving me the platform to once again put a man to sleep. April 17, it’s lights out for Askren.”

Triller Fight Club is promoting the event. Triller, the social networking service, was behind the Mike Tyson-Roy Jones Jr. exhibition on Nov. 28. Paul stopped Robinson in two rounds on that card.

Askren (19-2 with UFC) retired last year because he needed hip-replacement surgery, which reportedly was successful.

He also was a collegiate champion and 2008 Olympian in amateur wrestling.

Jake Paul has date with real fighter, former UFC star Ben Askren

Jake Paul reportedly will face former UFC star Ben Askren on April 17.

Jake Paul might’ve bitten off more than he can chew.

The YouTube personality, who knocked out retired NBA player Nate Robinson in November, will face an actual fighter – former MMA star Ben Askren – in an eight-round boxing match on April 17, ESPN is reporting.

Paul is 2-0 as a boxer. Askren, 36, will be taking part in his first boxing match.

“I know Jake Paul is enjoying pretending he is a fighter,” Askren said, according to ESPN. “I think on April 17 he is going to have a rude awakening to what being a fighter is really like. Jake has led a privileged life and doesn’t really know what the meaning of being a fighter is.

“I’m going to put his dreams to an end.”

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Paul is predicting a knockout.

“Ben Askren is a two-time NCAA champion, a world champion in two different global mixed martial arts organizations and has less losses on his record than Conor McGregor,” Paul said.

“Me, on the other hand, I started boxing two years ago and I’m still going to knock his ass out faster than [Jorge] Masvidal.

“These MMA guys think because they throw punches they know how to box. The world complained because I knocked out a basketball player and not a real fighter. So now I’m giving the people what they want by taking on a ‘real fighter.’

“After Ben Askren is added to my knockout meme collection, what can anybody say? Thank you to Triller Fight Club for giving me the platform to once again put a man to sleep. April 17, it’s lights out for Askren.”

Triller Fight Club is promoting the event. Triller, the social networking service, was behind the Mike Tyson-Roy Jones Jr. exhibition on Nov. 28. Paul stopped Robinson in two rounds on that card.

Askren (19-2 with UFC) retired last year because he needed hip-replacement surgery, which reportedly was successful.

He also was a collegiate champion and 2008 Olympian in amateur wrestling.

Jake Paul vs. Ben Askren: Twitter reacts to boxing match announcement

Jake Paul vs. Ben Askren is actually happening – and MMA Twitter is having a field day.

[autotag]Jake Paul[/autotag] vs. [autotag]Ben Askren[/autotag] is actually happening.

On Tuesday, it was announced that the YouTube star and former UFC welterweight contender will square off in a pay-per-view boxing match April 17 at a location and venue to be announced.

Paul will look to push his undefeated record to 3-0, while Askren, a former standout wrestler before becoming an MMA champion, will be making his professional boxing debut.

The matchup announcement got people talking on social media. Check below for the top Twitter reactions.

Jake Paul vs. Ben Askren boxing match set for April 17 pay-per-view

Jake Paul got his wish to box an MMA fighter – but it’s not Conor McGregor.

[autotag]Ben Askren[/autotag]’s idea of a “fun Friday night” fighting a YouTube star is going to happen.

[autotag]Jake Paul[/autotag] is set to take on former UFC fighter, Bellator champion and ONE Championship titleholder Askren will in a boxing match on an April 17 pay-per-view card. A location for the event is still to be determined.

Paul confirmed the booking in a lengthy Instagram post in which he called Askren “Mr. Napolean Dynamite look-alike.”

“It’s official 🙂 Representing the UFC Mr. Napoleon Dynamite look-alike @benaskren finally accepted the fight. He is a two-time NCAA champion, a world champion in two different global mixed martial arts organizations and has less losses on his record than Conor Mcgregor, yet, I’m still going to knock him out faster than Masvidal did… Some MMA guys think because they throw punches they know how to box. I shocked the world when I knockout an NBA superstar athlete, but some people still complained that he’s not a real fighter… So now I’m giving the people what they want by taking on a real fighter… After I add Ben to my knockout meme collection, what can anybody say? @triller Fight Club. April 17th. 82 days. The countdown starts now. Be ready.”

For weeks, Paul has primarily called for boxing matches against former UFC double champion Conor McGregor and Bellator welterweight Dillon Danis. However, Askren did throw his name into the hat in late 2020.

“I don’t know if there’s a feud, more than this guy has just said my name a few times,” Askren said in December. “Most people are like, ‘Oh, I don’t know why Ben Askren would stoop to that level.’ It’s like, listen, when I was in high school, one of the fun things to do was, a bunch of dudes would come over to the house, we’d put on some boxing gloves, and we’d try to beat the (expletive) out of each other.

“Like, we did that for free. We just did that for fun. And now you’re telling me you’re gonna pay me a whole bunch of money to beat up a YouTube star? Like, I don’t know, that just sounds like a fun Friday night to me.”

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Later in December, Askren claimed any progress on a potential March matchup had hit a standstill, and he questioned Paul’s interest in the fight.

With the matchup now officially on the books, Paul will look to advance to 3-0 in his professional boxing career. In his debut, Paul defeated fellow YouTuber AnEsonGib by first-round TKO. He then followed up with a brutal second-round knockout of former NBA star Nate Robinson. This will be his first bout against someone with professional combat sports experience.

As for Askren, the wrestling-based fighter will compete in his first pro boxing match. Askren has not competed in a striking combat sport since his three-fight stint with the UFC ended in two straight losses and his subsequent retirement in November 2019.

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Jake Paul accused of avoiding retired MMA star Ben Askren

Jake Paul has been accused of avoiding retired MMA star Ben Askren.

Editor’s note: This article was originally published on DAZN.com.

***

Ben Askren believes he has called the bluff of Jake Paul after he was challenged by the YouTube personality, claiming Paul has gone quiet now that the ex-UFC fighter has expressed an interest.

Paul has boxed twice, pummeling fellow online celebrity AnEsonGib in one round on Jan. 30 before scoring a second-round KO of former NBA star Nate Robinson on the undercard of the Mike Tyson vs. Roy Jones Jr. exhibition on Nov. 28.

Since then, Paul has publicly called out bigger fish, including Askren and one of the UFC’s biggest names, Conor McGregor.

However, Askren posted a video on Twitter to provide an update on the situation.

“I’m retired, coaching wrestling, doing some podcasts, buying some bitcoin, enjoying life,” Askren said. “I don’t really want to fight anybody. So November, this jabroni Jake Paul calls me out, puts up a poster with my name. It’s kinda funny, whatever, no big deal.

“Well then, a couple weeks later, I get a couple of texts. Then a week after that I get some calls. Then I get an offer. OK, this guy really wants to fight. Am I opposed to making some easy money beating up a YouTuber? Of course I’m not.

“So what do I do? Sure, Jacob, I’ll fight you. No problem. I accept publicly on Twitter, nonetheless. Since then, Jacob’s went silent. Jacob’s kind of a coward. Sorry guys, don’t think the fight is gonna happen.”

Askren hasn’t competed in the octagon since a pair of defeats last year to Jorge Masvidal and Demian Maia, with the Masvidal loss coming in just five seconds.

However, there is no doubt that either Askren or former double UFC champion McGregor would be an adversary several levels above a basketball player or another YouTuber.

Meanwhile, super middleweight boxing champion Billy Joe Saunders has urged McGregor to take Paul up on his offer, assuming of course the YouTuber doesn’t go silent in the same manner Askren claims he has.

“You don’t really want them throwing punches at each other because I can see [McGregor] knock someone out before cold. That fella (Paul) never had a fight in his life,” Saunders told IFL TV.

“You can clearly see boxing is not a playground. I think Conor McGregor will spark him and hurt him bad in UFC or boxing. I still think Conor McGregor takes him bad, to be honest.

“If they’re looking at, what is it? 50 million? Conor McGregor should go and whoop his ass and take that off him because it’ll be very comfortable. But it’s very dangerous.

“If they’re all going to make money and the promoters are going to put in on, who am I to say it’s not good?”

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Jake Paul accused of avoiding retired MMA star Ben Askren

Jake Paul has been accused of avoiding retired MMA star Ben Askren.

Editor’s note: This article was originally published on DAZN.com.

***

Ben Askren believes he has called the bluff of Jake Paul after he was challenged by the YouTube personality, claiming Paul has gone quiet now that the ex-UFC fighter has expressed an interest.

Paul has boxed twice, pummeling fellow online celebrity AnEsonGib in one round on Jan. 30 before scoring a second-round KO of former NBA star Nate Robinson on the undercard of the Mike Tyson vs. Roy Jones Jr. exhibition on Nov. 28.

Since then, Paul has publicly called out bigger fish, including Askren and one of the UFC’s biggest names, Conor McGregor.

However, Askren posted a video on Twitter to provide an update on the situation.

“I’m retired, coaching wrestling, doing some podcasts, buying some bitcoin, enjoying life,” Askren said. “I don’t really want to fight anybody. So November, this jabroni Jake Paul calls me out, puts up a poster with my name. It’s kinda funny, whatever, no big deal.

“Well then, a couple weeks later, I get a couple of texts. Then a week after that I get some calls. Then I get an offer. OK, this guy really wants to fight. Am I opposed to making some easy money beating up a YouTuber? Of course I’m not.

“So what do I do? Sure, Jacob, I’ll fight you. No problem. I accept publicly on Twitter, nonetheless. Since then, Jacob’s went silent. Jacob’s kind of a coward. Sorry guys, don’t think the fight is gonna happen.”

Askren hasn’t competed in the octagon since a pair of defeats last year to Jorge Masvidal and Demian Maia, with the Masvidal loss coming in just five seconds.

However, there is no doubt that either Askren or former double UFC champion McGregor would be an adversary several levels above a basketball player or another YouTuber.

Meanwhile, super middleweight boxing champion Billy Joe Saunders has urged McGregor to take Paul up on his offer, assuming of course the YouTuber doesn’t go silent in the same manner Askren claims he has.

“You don’t really want them throwing punches at each other because I can see [McGregor] knock someone out before cold. That fella (Paul) never had a fight in his life,” Saunders told IFL TV.

“You can clearly see boxing is not a playground. I think Conor McGregor will spark him and hurt him bad in UFC or boxing. I still think Conor McGregor takes him bad, to be honest.

“If they’re looking at, what is it? 50 million? Conor McGregor should go and whoop his ass and take that off him because it’ll be very comfortable. But it’s very dangerous.

“If they’re all going to make money and the promoters are going to put in on, who am I to say it’s not good?”

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Jake Paul spoofs Conor McGregor, Nate Diaz and other MMA fighters in hilarious video

Conor McGregor, Nate Diaz, Michael Bisping, Ben Askren, and even UFC president Dana White all got roasted in this one.

Here’s the thing about [autotag]Jake Paul[/autotag]: If you’re telling me that the guy is famous in the first place for being good at social media, then I want to see the content to prove it.

I think we got some of that Wednesday.

The YouTube star-turned-professional boxer spoofed some of the biggest names in MMA, including [autotag]Conor McGregor[/autotag], [autotag]Nate Diaz[/autotag], [autotag]Ben Askren[/autotag], [autotag]Michael Bisping[/autotag], [autotag]Dillon Danis[/autotag], and yes, even UFC president Dana White – all of whom had something to say about Paul in recent weeks with the exception of McGregor.

You can watch Paul’s “MMA Chronicles Part 1” in the video below, but fair warning that there’s a lot of NSFW language:

What did you think? I really hate how much I thought that was funny, but it was.

Paul’s video, of course, is a continued effort to line up a boxing match with an MMA fighter, which he’s been doing ever since knocking out former NBA star Nate Robinson last month on the Mike Tyson vs. Roy Jones Jr. pay-per-view. Paul has been pushing the envelope to get McGregor to bite, but so far he’s been unsuccessful. He’s also gone after McGregor’s teammate Danis.

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As of now, it appears Paul could be settling for a boxing match with Askren on March 28, though nothing is official despite Askren publicly accepting his challenge.

The Blue Corner is MMA Junkie’s blog space. We don’t take it overly serious, and neither should you. If you come complaining to us that something you read here is not hard-hitting news, expect to have the previous sentence repeated in ALL CAPS.

Ben Askren fires back at Bellator’s Scott Coker for Jake Paul boxing match prediction

To say Ben Askren isn’t happy with Bellator president Scott Coker might be an understatement.

To say [autotag]Ben Askren[/autotag] isn’t happy with Bellator president Scott Coker might be an understatement.

On Tuesday night, Coker offered up his assessment of how a rumored boxing match would play out between Askren and YouTube star [autotag]Jake Paul[/autotag].

“I already know who’s gonna win that one,” Coker told MMA Junkie. “Ben’s a wrestler. Let’s put it that way, right? So I think he gets knocked out in a boxing fight. But in an MMA fight, it’s a different story.”

By Wednesday, Askren caught wind of Coker’s prediction and fired back on Twitter.

“Hey, (Scott Coker), remember when your (welterweight) champ won a round against me? Oh yeah he didn’t,” Askren wrote, referencing a 2012 unanimous decision win over Douglas Lima. “How have you not got fired yet? You’re running Bellator into the ground.”

Coker’s remarks bothering Askren should come as no surprise. Askren, a former Bellator champion who fought for the promotion prior to Coker’s arrival in 2014, is very confident that he would “beat up” Paul rather easily in a boxing match.

In a social media video Tuesday night, Askren told Paul “I do accept” the challenge of a fight on March 28 in Los Angeles, which was first put out on social media by Chael Sonnen. Askren also had a lot to say about the matchup.

“It’s a pretty simple choice. I’m gonna make a whole bunch of money to beat up a guy who is pretending to be an athlete,” Askren said. “Because at the end of the day, that’s what you’re doing. And I know you may think that I do not have too many stand-up skills, but also at the end of the day, I don’t really need to. I’m a world-class athlete, I’ve won NCAA titles, I’ve been to the Olympics, I’ve won belts in multiple mixed martial arts organizations, and quite frankly I am impressed that you’ve deluded yourself into thinking you are actually a fighter – that you are really tough, that you can really box. It’s quite impressive.”

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Paul, in his second professional boxing match, knocked out former NBA star Nate Robinson last month in the co-main event of the Mike Tyson vs. Roy Jones Jr. pay-per-view and immediately turned his attention to UFC star Conor McGregor, as well as his teammate and Bellator fighter Dillon Danis. With those possibilities seeming like long shots, it appears that Askren would suffice.

Askren, 36, retired from MMA shortly after an October 2019 loss to Demian Maia. Askren, also a ONE Championship titleholder, was 18-0 before joining the UFC, where he went 1-2 with his lone victory coming in controversial fashion against Robbie Lawler in his debut. After that, Askren was knocked out in five second by Jorge Masvidal’s flying knee before his final loss to Maia.

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Scott Coker doesn’t like Ben Askren’s chances against Jake Paul in rumored boxing match

With Ben Askren rumored to be fighting Jake Paul in a boxing match in 2021, Scott Coker gave his take, and revealed he has little confidence in Askren’s striking.

It’s safe to say that Bellator president Scott Coker doesn’t have too much confidence in [autotag]Ben Askren[/autotag]’s striking.

With YouTube sensation-turned-boxer [autotag]Jake Paul[/autotag] calling out the likes of Askren, Dillon Danis and Conor McGregor after knocking out former NBA star Nate Robinson on the Mike Tyson-Roy Jones Jr. card last month, it appears Askren might be the one who ends up in the boxing ring with Paul.

Rumors of a proposed March 28 date in Los Angeles have been swirling and, if the fight materializes, it seems former Bellator welterweight champion Askren won’t be heading into the ring with the backing of the current Bellator boss, who took over the helm at the promotion in 2014 after Askren had departed for ONE Championship earlier the same year.

“I already know who’s gonna win that one,” Coker told MMA Junkie. “Ben’s a wrestler. Let’s put it that way, right? So I think he gets knocked out in a boxing fight. But in an MMA fight, it’s a different story.”

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While he may not have too much confidence in Askren transitioning to boxing, Coker seemed slightly more confident in the ability of Paul, and his brother Logan, making a transition to MMA. Indeed, he even appeared to leave the door ever-so-slightly open for the Paul brothers, should they ever decide to dip their toes into MMA waters in the future.

“I know the Paul brothers can do both,” Coker said. “Jake is a real wrestler (and) can box now. You have boxing and you have wrestling, just learn the anti-jiu-jitsu techniques that Frank and Ken Shamrock used to teach back in the day, and you’ll be fine. Don’t worry, you’ll be good.”

Askren, who announced his retirement from MMA in November 2018, may not be known for his striking, but is confident that he’d make easy work of Paul. He took to Instagram to accept Paul’s callout, blasting him for “pretending to be an athlete.”

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Fight songs: The World MMA Awards’ top 10 spoof pop songs, ranked

We take a quick rundown of the World MMA Awards’ spoof pop videos in our special end-of-year top 10 list.

The legendary Bob Marley once uttered, “One good thing about music, when it hits you, you feel no pain.”

However, if the following collection of tracks is anything to go by, some of MMA’s best have certainly tried to make an impact.

Each year, Fighters Only’s World MMA Awards have featured musical interludes featuring spoof pop videos starring some of the biggest stars of the sport as they poke fun at themselves for their peers’ entertainment during the annual black-tie get-together in Las Vegas.

The songs are all the brainchild of MMA-loving stand-up comedian Adam Hunter, who also has his own comedy special coming soon to UFC Fight Pass.

Here’s a sneak peek…

As a man who started out in hospital radio, spinning tunes for patients who couldn’t run away from my own eclectic musical tastes, who better from the Junkie team than yours truly to pick through the Top 10 list of spoof tracks from the World MMA Awards?

So, without further ado, let’s go straight into it as we run down the list, ordered by number of YouTube views. Enjoy!

The Blue Corner is MMA Junkie’s blog space. We don’t take it overly serious, and neither should you. If you come complaining to us that something you read here is not hard-hitting news, expect to have the previous sentence repeated in ALL CAPS.