AXS TV Fights boss apologizes to Ben Askren after 'Inside MMA' segment

The head of AXS TV Fights has apologized to ONE FC welterweight champion Ben Askren following a heavily criticized segment on this past Friday’s edition of “Inside MMA.”

Andrew Simon publicly apologized on Saturday, a day after Askren spoke to “Inside MMA” hosts Kenny Rice and Bas Rutten about his career, the UFC and his issues with UFC President Dana White.

Said Simon (via Twitter):

@Benaskren I apologize for @InsideMMAaxstv closing mic.We respect your opinions & look forward to having you back to continue the discussion—
Andrew Simon (@andrewAXSTV) September 07, 2014

@Benaskren I don't have your phone number, but would appreciate opportunity to talk 1 on 1. Feel free to DM or I can send mine—
Andrew Simon (@andrewAXSTV) September 07, 2014

In a clip made available by AXS TV, Askren was asked about White. The UFC boss recently suggested he might finally be interested in signing the former NCAA Division I wrestling national champion and Olympian, but Askren immediately dismissed the idea.

After calling White a “chameleon” and explaining that he doesn’t like he how he flip-flops with his opinions, Askren was grilled by Rice and Rutten, who suggested the fighter eventually would want and need the UFC. As Askren was answering the question, Rice interrupted to “close down the soapbox” and cut him off mid-sentence.

Check out the full segment above.

The segment prompted some tweets from Askren:

Hey @KennyRiceSports I think that is what @KingMoFH would call some @ufc dick riding. keep an open mind brother, times are changing—
Ben Askren (@Benaskren) September 06, 2014

Hey @mcuban let me debate your disrespectful @InsideMMAaxstv host Kenny Rice on the economics of global MMA! Bet I take him to school.—
Ben Askren (@Benaskren) September 06, 2014

Hey @mcuban I thought @InsideMMAaxstv was an independent MMA news source. Better check how much @KennyRiceSports is taking from UFC—
Ben Askren (@Benaskren) September 06, 2014

Askren (14-0), a former Bellator champion, recently claimed the ONE FC welterweight belt with an 84-second TKO victory over Nobutatsu Suzuki at ONE FC 19. The fighter, who’s ranked No. 7 in the USA TODAY Sports/MMAjunkie MMA welterweight rankings, has now posted stoppages in his past four bouts.