Ben Askren Promises To TKO Shinya Aoki Who Says He Hopes He ‘Gets Out Alive’

ONE Championship welterweight champion Ben Askren will face Shinya Aoki on Friday night and yesterday, the two of two of them were involved in a pre-fight press conference at the Marina Bay Sands.

Both athletes were given a chance to address the press with speeches, before the floor was opened up for questions.

During the Q&A session, Aoki, who’d already mentioned multiple times he was scared about fighting Askren on Friday, then went on to say he was afraid of dying in the ONE Championship cage when he fights Askren at ONE: Immortal Pursuit (live on FloCombat for those in North America)

“I’m really scared about fighting in this bout,” Aoki said via a translator. “I don’t want to think about that will happen after the fight yet. I’ve mixed emotions, I’m both hopeful and scared.

“I just want to get out alive.”

Askren spoke exclusively to MMANytt.com after the press conference and dismissed the Japanese fighter’s comments.

“He’s funny he caught me off-guard with the whole ‘I’m scared, I don’t want to get killed’ bit,” Askren said. “Who knows, maybe he’s playing possum, I’m not falling for that. I’m not falling for it.

“I’m brining my ‘A’ game regardless of what he says.”

Askren then vowed to get the job done ruthlessly on Friday night and said that he wouldn’t be taking any prisoners.

“I’m going to TKO him,” Askren said.

“I’m going to finish this year without getting hit. 2017, the year of not getting hit.”