Askren Meets Thompson in Non-Title Bout at Bellator 40

Nick Thompson (above) will square off against Ben Askren on April 9 | Dave Mandel/Sherdog.com

The event, which goes down April 9 at the First Council Casino in Newkirk, Okla., will air live on MTV2.

Askren has not seen action since capturing Bellator’s 170-pound crown last October, when he took a five-round unanimous decision over the promotion’s first-ever welterweight champion, Lyman Good, at Bellator 33. “Funky” earned a shot at the title by winning Bellator’s second-season welterweight tournament in spring 2010, defeating Ryan Thomas in both the quarter- and semifinals before outpointing fellow finalist Dan Hornbuckle at Bellator 22 in June.

A 2008 U.S. Olympian in freestyle wrestling, Askren is a two-time NCAA champion, winning national wrestling titles for the University of Missouri in 2006 and 2007. Undefeated as a mixed martial artist, the 26-year-old has submitted three of his seven career victims and holds a perfect 4-0 record in Bellator competition.

“I come to fight every single time,” Askren said in a release. “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.”

A former BodogFight welterweight champion, Thompson ran off 12 consecutive victories from 2006 to 2008. Recently, however, the Minnesota-based veteran has fallen on hard times, losing three straight bouts to tough competition. Thompson last stepped in the ring against Taisuke Okuno, losing by knockout at Sengoku Raiden Championship 14. Prior to that bout, the 29-year-old was finished by former Strikeforce title challenger Tim Kennedy and the aforementioned Hornbuckle.

Thompson began his career in 2003 and made his UFC debut in 2005, earning a 1-1 record before parting ways with the promotion. Thompson’s last victory came against current Strikeforce welterweight contender Paul Daley, as the Minnesota Martial Arts Academy product earned a unanimous decision over the Brit at Maximum Fighting Championship 20 in 2009.

“I think the biggest advantage for me in this fight with Ben is the fact that I’ve fought more than 50 fights,” said Thompson. “I’ve fought in every organization. I’ve fought against the best fighters in the world, and I’ve been ranked in the top ten. 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.”