Ben Askren Makes A Prediction: ‘I Will Fight Georges St-Pierre At The Bell Centre In 2019’
Ben Askren is currently retired, but he’s always openly admitted that he will return to active competition for one reason: to prove that he’s the #1 welterweight in the world.
Other fighters when they retire let go of their inhibitions, but that’s not Askren’s way. Speaking to MMAJunkie Radio this past week, the former ONE welterweight champion explained that he’s going to be staying ready on the sidelines.
“I think I’m 33 and I’ve taken very good care of my body,” Askren said. “I’ve never taken PEDs so there’s no ill-effects from that. I’ve never had a very major injury since college so I’ve been fine for over a decade so I’m fine there.
“As far as that’s concerned, I’m very healthy and in good shape, not fighting shape, but I’m still training with the guys and I’ve always lived a healthy lifestyle. I don’t think I’m one of those guys who has aged that quickly, I don’t think that’s going to happen.”
Whether he returns or not appears to be solely down to whether the circumstances will allow him to claim the status of the best welterweight in the world. With his good friend Tyron Woodley the current UFC welterweight champion, Askren wouldn’t ever consider going down that route, but if a potential fight with Georges St-Pierre materialized, he wouldn’t have to think twice about it.
“I just want to be #1, I don’t know how many ways I can say it. I just want to be #1,” Askren said. “I want to prove I’m #1 and that’s it. Sometimes you don’t have to make simple issues complex, they can just be simple. I just want to be #1.”
A showdown with St-Pierre would likely make for a big money fight, but that’s not Askren’s main motivation. Fighting the Canadian is about proving to the world what he’s been saying his entire career.
“Listen, I’m not super rich, I don’t have $20 million, but I’ve intelligent enough with my money and I don’t need to, if I make a $1,000,000 fantastic, but I don’t need to,” Askren said. “That’s not my main motivation at all.
“My main motivation is to prove I’m #1 in the world and I think that it will happen at the Bell Centre against GSP in late 2019. I’d love it. I always loved wrestling people in their hometowns.”
That’s one bold prediction.
