Dana White ‘Excited’ About Ben Askren to the UFC, Expects Top 5 Fight for Debut

Ben Askren is finally a UFC fighter and Dana White is happy to have him.

That’s the word from the UFC president, who made his first comments about the historic trade that brought Askren to the Octagon in exchange for former flyweight champion Demetrious Johnson as he joins ONE Championship.

In the past, White has been at odds with Askren while commenting that nobody knew the former Bellator and ONE Champion and calling him boring for his wrestling heavy offense when he fights.

It appears all ill will has been set aside in the favor of good business as White addressed Askren coming to the UFC for the first time in a brief interview with TMZ.

“We’re still working on it,” White said about Askren’s UFC debut. “Obviously, he’s going to come into the welterweight division, 170 pounds, he’s undefeated, he’s their champion. We’re excited about it.”

As far as potential opponents, White wasn’t ready to play matchmaker just yet but he seemingly narrowed down the list of fighters who could be in line to face Askren in his debut.

“He’s definitely going to fight somebody in the top five,” White commented.

Askren has already engaged in a war of words with several fighters on the UFC roster after news first broke about his potential move to the promotion.

If White really does want to pit Askren against a top five opponent, the list isn’t very long in terms of who is available with Darren Till, Stephen “Wonderboy” Thompson and former champion Robbie Lawler currently without fights right now.

Interim champion Colby Covington is expected to face current welterweight king Tyron Woodley early next year and Rafael dos Anjos is booked against Kamaru Usman at the upcoming ‘Ultimate Fighter’ finale card in November.

Whoever ends up as his first opponent, Askren will surely look to prove that the hype around him is legitimate as the undefeated welterweight prepares to make his UFC debut.