Dillon Danis Doubles Down On Askren Callout: 'He's Scared'
Dillon Danis Doubles Down On Askren Callout: 'He's Scared'
Dillon Danis took his call out to the next level on Monday. "I feel like i’m the one to beat his undefeated record." Danis said.
Although Ben Askren is officially retired from MMA, he sure does find himself getting called out quite often. Over the weekend, the former Bellator welterweight champion was once again mentioned as a desired opponent—this time by the promotion's newest undefeated star, Dillon Danis.
The world-renowned grappler's MMA debut went according to plan on Saturday at Bellator 198 in Rosemont, IL, with Danis wasting no in securing a first-round submission against Kyle Walker in their 175lb catchweight bout after looking a little unsure of himself on the feet.
Afterward in the locker room, Danis stole a page from Conor McGregor's playbook by calling out the biggest name he could think of when asked whom he wanted to fight next.
“I was thinking, maybe, Ben Askren. We’ll see.”
It turns out the 2008 Olympic wrestler and undefeated MMA champion was listening! And it didn't take long for him to fire back.
He realizes this isn’t reality so he feels safe doing so. Maybe he should fight someone with a winning record first https://t.co/X2dGlYTVyI
— Ben Askren (@Benaskren) April 29, 2018
On Monday, Danis further discussed his first experience inside the cage on Ariel Helwani's MMA Hour, and the conversation quickly shifted to Askren.
"I feel like I’m the one to beat his undefeated record," Danis said. "It would be a ground fight and be an easy submission. He does not like leg attacks, I know his game very well. I feel like he would be scared to go to the ground with me I think it’s an easy fight."
Confidence comes easy for the John Kavanaugh-coached prospect—who's also called out current Bellator welterweight champ Rory MacDonald, among others, in the past—and right now the MMA world seems to be watching very closely. Even though there seems to be some animosity between the two, Danis doesn't mind spreading what Bellator commentator "Big" John McCarthy calls "The Danis Effect."
"He responded. He doesn’t respond to everyone," Danis said. "He knows that once he responds his name will be all over the pace. It’s probably the most media he’s ever got."
What do you think of a potential Dillon Danis vs. Ben Askren matchup?