He also got rocked in his debut by the 10th ranked guy in his division. Props to him for toughing it out and getting the W, but there is an obvious trend of him getting tagged by strikers because he's slow and the top tier dudes are probably going to knock him out. Just don't want to see an obviously smart guy's brain turn to mush just so he can muddle in the middle of a division for a few more W's only to get repeatedly knocked into CET land by the actual contenders.
I know it’s hard to quantify, but compared to other guys with 20 professional fights, Askren has taken very very little damage.
Thanks, great interview. Maybe he is faking it but he seems like he is right where he needs to be mentally and physically. Askren is a one-dimensional unfunny asshole and I say that as the op of the college wrestling thread and a 15 year Askren fan. But with that being said, he could easily win a re-match vs Jorge. He could beat anyone just because that is the nature of the sport when you have someone with his skill set. Although, maybe this is the start of the decline for him Idk.
I agree, but don’t you think that we deserve a rematch? I mean shit, I would have lasted longer in there lol. It’s not like we saw a fight. We saw a great plan/move/idea land perfectly.
Fuck no. What was his reply when asked if Lawler should get one? "Honestly, no. Why would we do that?"
In fairness, he's taken significant damage in his only 2 UFC fights. I wonder who he gets matched up against next. Till might make sense now. I'd kinda like to see him fight the winner of Pettis-Diaz
The only reason I'd want to see that rematch is to see Masvidal knock Askren out again. I don't think Masvidal would entertain that for a second though. He's moved past the flash in the pan Press Conference Champ and has his sights set on fighting for the belt.
Askren said all the right things in his interview. I can respect that, and it's good that he has that perspective. He knows he's annoying as fuck, because that's his goal. I personally think Askren is very transparent and that he tries WAY too hard to sell a fight with fake heat and manufactured hate, but like Masvidal said, when you run into a real motherfucker, that talk means nothing. It's not unlike Connor and Khabib. You want to talk, let's talk now? There are certain guys; Masvidal, Tony Ferguson, Khabib, the Diaz brothers, who just don't suffer fools like that. it's all real to them, there is no selling a fight or hyping it, it's either real or it's not. Askren is what he is, and he's not going to change, he'll still be a fucking goofball leading into his next fight. I'll tune in and hope he goes to sleep again.
After turning down Lawler 2, I don't think Askren should get an immediate run back. I wouldn't be opposed to seeing Part 2 in a year or two though. I'm sure UFC would love to see it bc it'll bring in eyeballs.
Yea I think Askren is a good dude and knows exactly what he’s doing. He wouldn’t have gotten that fight if he hadn’t talked so much shit. He also doesn’t get all of the eye balls on him without it too. So he’s playing the game. Shit, he’s better at it than Colby Covington.
For some reason there are guys you know are just doing it for show, like Sonnen, but still are not as annoying as Askren is. The whole "well I got a question....why are you so mad?" it's like he scripts his insults and whatnot in advance. I can't stand anything about he guy. his dumb accent, his dad bod. It is a little odd that a no nonsense guy like Masvidal is good friends with Covington.
I think Covington is clearly an act too. He tries so hard. I dislike him more than just about anybody. You can tell it almost bother Colby as much as everyone else haha They’re close because they’re fighting out of the same gym?
yea, they were roommates, they've been tight for a long time. Just odd to see Masvidal being so anti-fake, manufactured crap, then be friends with a guy who is all about grandiose, fake crap like Covington. But for me, even listening to Covington, and seeing his antics, I can listen to an hour of that before I listen to a minute of Askren.
Assuming Usman is on the shelf for a while, who do you think Masvidal fights next? I think it's very unlikely we see an Askren rematch. There are some good storylines out there: -Covington (if he beats Lawler) - good friends facing off for #1 contender spot -Lawler - former teammates -Leon Edwards (if he beats RDA next Sat) - chance to hit the Brit with more than the 3piece and soda
Zero chance of an Askren rematch IMO. Masvidal pretty much said it’s title shot or nothing. I think he’s got a good bit of leverage with the ufc right now and is about to capitalize by renegotiating his contract. Is it crazy to say he’s now the biggest star in the UFC at the moment? Don’t see him fighting Edwards or Lawlor. Covington maybe...
I knew someone would say this but right now, who is Jones going to fight that excites you? DC again? Not me. Masvidal is fucking everywhere right now. Jones looked very beatable last weekend. I’m still a huge Jones fan.
You can argue that Jones doesn't have anyone left to fight that would make a huge fight but he's by far the biggest star in UFC right now. If you poll every person in the US, way more know who Jon Bones Jones than Masvidal or anyone else fighting in UFC today, unless we include McGregor.
I mean he had a huge KO 3 days ago so I guess as of this minute maybe he is bc people are talking about it but I think recency bias is getting the best of you. Holly Holm was the hottest name for a week too. Masvidal is awesome. He's not headlining his next card.
Idk why people love Masvidal and act like he’s the most authentic guy in the ufc.. All of these guys are public figures, to think Masidal’s persona isn’t at least partially a construct is quite naive. He gets along w Colby because they playing the same game in different styles.
Jones is probably more popular and well known, but he just got massively overshadowed by Masvidal on his card. Masvidal Covington (assuming he wins) or Masvidal Edwards I think has to happen if Usman can't fight in the next 6 months. I think it would be a mistake for Masvidal to sit tight and just wait for Usman. Masvidal and Convington have both kind of set it up already, each saying they are friends, but they are both in this business to be the best, and if that means they have to fight eachother, so be it. And that they have been fighting eachother for 8 years, they might as well get paid for it now. And Woodley could probably be matched up with any of the above when he is ready to fight.
If he’s fighting Usman for a title, he is 100% headlining his next card. He murdered Till in England. Then Askren. Holly Holm was a champion after beating at the time the goat woman fighter.
I think there is some of that, but keep in mind this is a guy who came up fighting in back yards with Kimbo Slice. This is a guy who stepped away from a post-fight interview to land a few punches on another fighter passing by. He might be playing some of this up, but his history suggests that a lot of this is just who he is. If I saw him in Whole Foods, I wouldn't test your theory that this is all for show. He's cut from the same cloth as Diaz, Khabib, etc. It's a respect/realness thing, which some find to be annoying and dumb, but it's not fake. I'm not saying none of it is manufactured, but most of it is not.
Maybe. And lets be honest, if he’s fighting on another card he’s not headlining, what matchup would intrigue you more than watching him? Take Conor out of it. I don’t even consider him a UFC fighter at this point. He’s a whiskey mogul. I don’t think Masvidal is fighting any time soon unless it’s for a belt from what he’s saying. But to play to your point, what fight would you rather see on a card even if it was Masvidal/Covington?
FTR, I didn’t say he is the biggest star in the UFC. I said at the moment and I corrected it to the hottest name. Take Conor out, there’s no one else I’d rather watch in the UFC right now. Johnny Walker is up there and that Michel guy who killed someone in his debut. And Jon Jones is definitely up there too. He needs a bigger name to fight in order for him to bring his best.
Agree to disagree Khabib vs Ferguson would’ve been the only matchup I might agree with you. Jones vs Santos again does nothing for me.
Not their fault the fighters are too stubborn to only need to do a little weight cut by weigh-in time.