Fans, fellow fighters, and pundits alike will unanimously agree that the next in line to challenge for the UFC welterweight title is the former UFC interim welterweight champion Colby Covington. However, the former Bellator MMA and ONE FC welterweight champion Ben Askren does not agree. He believes that he overcomes the hurdle that Covington’s friend and Askren’s next opponent Jorge Masvidal represents then he will leap over Covington for a title shot.
Askren recently in an interview given to MMA Fighting said that he feels because Covington hasn’t fought for about 16 months, defeating Masvidal will mean that Askren will have a more legitimate and valid claim for a title shot. Here’s what he had to say:
I think the way the momentum is shifting if I beat up Jorge Masvidal, I think there’s a good chance I get a title shot, and if not, I’m not very far away. I’m pretty darn close. I think it is [possible], I don’t think people are too into Colby’s schtick anymore. They realize it’s old, it’s washed up, it’s just not that exciting. The guy is doing one of these things where you sit out and wait for a title fight and that is something I will never, ever do. How long ago was Colby’s last fight? Last June? What is this mother—ker going to sit out for 16 months and expect to get a title shot? The only way to stay relevant in this sport is to stay in there and keep getting after it. So yeah, if I go beat up Jorge, I’m going to have a lot more momentum. And if “Marty” (Kamaru Usman) wants to make some money, I’m sure “Marty” has a pay-per-view clause in his contract, you’re damn sure that I’m going to sell a whole bunch more pay-per-views against him than Colby would.
ALSO READ:
Dillon Danis details how he will win against Jon Jones in a MMA fight