Ben Askren Declines Robbie Lawler Rematch After Controversial Finish: ‘I Pass’

Ben Askren’s UFC debut was nearly a disaster, but he prevailed, although the win was not without controversy.

Askren has long been one of the most coveted fighters in the sport not under the UFC umbrella and when he finally walked into the Octagon for the first time, it was as if everything fell into place. But “Funky” Askren nearly had his consciousness knocked into orbit when Robbie Lawler slammed him onto his head and smashed several clean punches into his face. A dazed mess with blood pouring from his nose and a nasty cut above his left eye, Askren was almost knocked out in less than a minute.

Somehow, though, the unbeaten Roufusport fighter managed to survive and win a few minutes later.

“He’s really freaking strong and he went up and down really fast,” Askren told the assembled media at the UFC 235 post-fight press conference late Saturday night. “I was unable to reposition myself before the fall and then I fell on my head. And then he started unloading punches.”

From there, Askren recovered and eventually forced Lawler into the cage. After a brief clinch, Askren tied “Ruthless” up and applied a tight bulldog choke, eventually forcing referee Herb Dean to intervene, believing that former UFC welterweight champ was out. The decision created a firestorm throughout the MMA world because Lawler immediately protested, claiming he was never out.

“I had it under his chin and I thought it was tight, but I also thought there’s no way I’m getting go of this thing,” Aslrem said of the choke. “But I was bleeding all over the place so I just squeezed as hard as I could. Everyone is upset with Herb, but he came in and checked on Robbie and Robbie gave him nothing. As a veteran that’s on Robbie, that’s not on Herb or me.”

Naturally, talk of an immediate rematch began and UFC President Dana White told the media that it’s “only fair” to have them fight again.

Askren, however, wasn’t too keen on the notion of locking horns with Lawler again.

“I pass,” he stated. “I mean, I didn’t want to fight him in the first place; I like Robbie Lawler a lot. What’s the point? I would like to fight the winner of [Darren] Till vs. [Jorge] Masvidal. I think that makes a whole lot of sense as far as the division is concerned. I got a plane ticket to London. I’m going to watch Till vs. Masvidal. The winner, I think, will be No. 3 and that’s who I’d like to fight.”