Ben Askren: Bus ride with matchmaker Joe Silva didn't improve UFC chances

Ben Askren and Joe Silva

Even after sharing close quarters with UFC matchmaker Joe Silva, polarizing welterweight Ben Askren hasn’t grown more optimistic the UFC octagon is in his future.

The lack of relationship between Askren and UFC officials is well-documented. The undefeated former Bellator MMA champion and reigning ONE Championship titleholder was a free agent in early 2014 and pushed for a UFC contract.

A deal couldn’t be reached, and company president Dana White told Askren to improve his resume elsewhere. Askren, an Olympian and former NCAA Division I national wrestling champion, opted to sign with the Asia-based ONE Championship promotion, where he won the 170-pound title within just two fights.

Ben Askren

Despite the fact Askren still has several fights remaining on his ONE contract and said he’s pleased with how the promotion has treated him, he still struggles to avoid questions about eventually making his way to the UFC.

Granted, it’s hard to avoid those questions after his head coach, Duke Roufus, posted an Instagram photo of Askren and Silva seated next to each other prior to UFC 185 earlier this month.

“I got on the bus, and there he was,” Askren told MMAjunkie. “A bunch of my team sat down, and there was only one spot left, right there next to him. I sat down and kind of made a few jokes so it would be less awkward.”

Askren attended UFC 185 in Dallas to corner his Roufusport teammates Anthony Pettis and Sergio Pettis.

“Funky” has had his public run-ins with White, but the Silva photo sparked a lot of speculation. Unfortunately, the 30-year-old said that’s not how the situation played out. He cracked a few jokes to lighten the mood, but he said no business was discussed because, in his opinion, the ball is in the UFC’s court.

“I don’t think that’s the place or the time to talk business, but at the same time, I don’t like really what the UFC has said to me in the past,” Askren said. “So, if they want to talk, at this point they would have to reach out to me to make something happen.”

Askren (14-0) returns to competition at ONE Championship 26 on April 24, when he puts his title on the line against Luis Santos (61-9-1). The event streams via online pay-per-view from Mall of Asia Arena in Manila.

For more on ONE Championship 26, check out the MMA Rumors section of the site.