“I’m out of retirement”, Jorge Masvidal’s unretirement tweet sparks rematch interest from former Bellator champion

Ben Askren, once retired, voices eagerness to come out of retirement for a potential rematch with Jorge Masvidal at the landmark UFC 300 event.

“I’m out of retirement”, Jorge Masvidal’s unretirement tweet sparks rematch interest from former Bellator champion

Jorge Masvidal (Image via: IMAGO)

Jorge Masvidal retired from MMA after his loss to Gilbert Burns at UFC 288. It was his fourth consecutive loss since he became the BMF champion of the UFC. Conversely, 2019 was Masvidal’s best year in his career. The Florida native defeated Darren Till, Ben Askren, and Nate Diaz and put himself in a title fight with Kamaru Usman. The highlight of Masvidal’s career is his 5-second flying knee knockout of then-undefeated Ben Askren.

Askren, a former Bellator and ONE Championship welterweight champion was a big favorite for the fight. However, Masvidal had other intentions. Askren has since retired but with Masvidal unretiring recently, he had some things to say about it on his YouTube show with Daniel Cormier, Funky and Champ.

If Dana called me and said, "Ben, Jorge Masvidal, UFC 300, international," I don't give a damn. I'm out of retirement. I'll fight him. I don't care.
Ben Askren via Funky and Champ
YouTube video

Ben Askren is all in on a potential rematch with Masvidal but only in MMA. Askren does not want to box Masvidal. Masvidal has not announced where he will make a comeback. Rumors swirl of a boxing match with Jake Paul among others. However, he has not made an official confirmation about it. Askren had already fought Paul and lost via first-round TKO.

FS Video

Askren only fought once since his loss to Masvidal. It was against Demian Maia. He lost the fight via rear naked choke submission in the third round. Askren is still active as a coach in the high school and collegiate wrestling circuit. He recently released his memoir Funky.

Ben Askren sides with Sean Strickland in a spat with Ian Garry

Sean Strickland recently broke down on his appearance on Theo Von‘s podcast This Past Weekend. This was after Dricus Du Plessis went after Strickland’s childhood abuse for trash talk. Strickland and Ian Garry had an online spat due to Strickland’s comments about Garry’s wife, Layla Anna-Lee.

Ian Garry hits back at Sean Strickland
Ian Garry hits back at Sean Strickland (Image via IMAGO)

Garry recently hit back at Strickland on social media. Former Bellator champion Ben Askren provided his take on the incident on his YouTube show, Funky and Champ. This is what he said.

It feels like a scumbag move. You know, Sean, I don't want to say totally leaned into the child abuse thing. It made him mad, and it should have made him mad. ....when we think about Ian Gary, he did that as an adult. He married that woman, even if she tricked him, he was still an adult, a man making choices. Child abuse is some of the saddest ever. .....So the fact that someone would think that that is something to make fun of, like, you're a scumbag, period."
Ben Askren via Funky and Champ

Askren sided with Strickland in the spat. He stated that Strickland criticized Garry for the decisions Garry made as an adult. However, Strickland had no control over the abuse he suffered in childhood. Therefore, Askren found Garry’s comments out of the line.

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