Askren: UFC will have no choice but to give me Usman after I beat Till

Ben Askren makes a case for himself as a fan-favorite and a potential title challenger in the near future.

There was a lot of hype surrounding Ben Askren prior to his UFC debut at UFC 235 early this month. And after notching his first win inside the Octagon, the undefeated welterweight immediately set his sights on the winner of this weekend’s UFC London headliner fight between Darren Till and Jorge Masvidal.

Askren has predicted Till to win against Masvidal, but as for the outcome of their potential matchup down the line, he is expecting big things for himself.

“I think when I beat up Darren Till, they’re going to have no other choice but to throw me in there against Marty,” Askren said in a Q&A session (via MMA Fighting).

“Here’s what it comes down to. It comes down to the fan push. And you guys are dipsh-ts and you’re booing me, but — there we go, come on — you know the numbers don’t lie. And the reason they were forced to trade for me was because everyone wanted to see me, and that’s what it comes down to.

“And now after UFC 235, the numbers have been insane,” he continued. “So once I beat up Darren Till, the numbers will go through the roof even in England, and they’re going to have no other choice than to put me in there and let me beat up Marty.”

Both Masvidal and Till were displeased with Askren’s intent to make a fight happen with either one of them. “Gamebred” did not mince his words in a recent interview, while “The Gorilla” even stormed Askren’s Q&A session to express his sentiments.