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SCRAPP! FIGHT MAGAZINE
January - 2015
27
This past year has been an in-
teresting one for the UFC. The
organization was able to de-
liver a lot of events to the fans,
too many for some, and the
company signed a landmark
uniform deal with Reebok. But
at the same time, overall view-
ership was down and to close
out the year and some cur-
rent and former fighters have
brought a class-action lawsuit
to the company’s doorstep.
There is no way to know for
sure how things will turn out
for the UFC, but I think it is safe
to say the organization is going
to see a lot of changes in the
coming year. That discussion,
however, is for another time.
In addition to all of those go-
ings on, the UFC signed a huge
name to their roster…For-
mer WWE superstar Phil “CM
Punk” Brooks. While this sign-
ing has a lot of hardcore MMA
fans up in arms, it makes sense
for the company. Brooks isn’t
going to make a huge impact
in the sport as far as titles are
concerned, but he does move
the needle and the UFC needs
that right now.
The UFC is thin on star power
and they need to attract fans to
the sport. Brooks can help do
that, but at the same time the
company needs to do some-
thing to prove that they are still
dedicated to being the premier
MMA organization in the world
and that something should be
the signing of former Bellator
welterweight champion and
current ONE FC welterweight
champion Ben Askren.
Askren may not be a huge
draw with the casual fan base,
but he is more than deserv-
ing of a spot in the UFC and
it is maddening that he has yet
to receive the opportunity to
prove he is one of the best in
the world.
A four-time NCAA All-Ameri-
can, two-time NCAA National
Runner-Up, two-time NCAA
National Champion, two-time
recipient of the Dan Hodge
Trophy and 2008 Olympian,
Askren is one of the most deco-
rated armature wrestlers in the
sport today and his wrestling
has translated into a successful
MMA career thus far.
Askren is currently 14-0 in
MMA competition including
finishes in his last four bouts.
What more does he need to
do to prove he belongs? All
Askren has done thus far is
win and that should be good
enough.
Ben Askren Needs to be in the UFC
Article By: RJ Gardner
(Dave Mandel/Sherdog)