Two-time Division I wrestling champion and 2008 Olympian Ben Askren has held the Bellator Welterweight Championship since his title winning match at April’s Bellator 40 event last year which continued his perfect record reign in both MMA and BFC alike.
This week Bellator Fighting Championship officials announced that veteran Nick Thompson would be up against Askren in a non-title bout at their April 9th event set to be held at the First Council Casino in Newkirk, Oklahoma which will air live on MTV2.
“Ben’s been completely dominant in every fight he’s had under the Bellator banner, and Nick has run the MMA gauntlet in his career, fighting everywhere and everyone,” Bellator chairman and CEO Bjorn Rebney stated in today’s release. “He will be a fantastic test for Ben.”
Askren will be facing Thompson who has fought more than seven times as many career fights, however the champ is not concerned going into the fight.
“I come to fight every single time,” Askren stated. “Whether you’re good or you’re bad, I still want to smash you, and it’s going to be the same thing when I fight Nick Thompson.
“It doesn’t matter what his record is, I’m looking to kick his ass.”
Thompson has been said to believe he has the upper hand going into the bout as his career experience spans from the UFC to EliteXC, Sengoku, BodogFight, and more.
“I think the biggest advantage for me in this fight with Ben is the fact that I’ve fought more than 50 fights,” Thompson said of the match-up, “I’ve fought in every organization, I’ve fought against the best fighters in the world, and I’ve been ranked in the top-10. Ben hasn’t been there.
“I plan on hitting him like he’s never been hit before, and I’m excited to find out how he’s going to react.”
