It took a while, but the UFC finally made it official that Ben Askren’s promotional debut will be against former welterweight champion Robbie Lawler.
The organization announced Wednesday that the anticipated 170-pound bout will take place at UFC 233 on Jan. 26 at the Honda Center in Anaheim, Calif.
Askren (18-0 with one no-contest) was acquired by the UFC in October in a modified trade of sorts with longtime UFC flyweight champion Demetrious “Might Mouse” Johnson joining ONE Championship in return.
ESPN reported earlier this month that Askren-Lawler was in the works.
The 34-year-old freestyle wrestling world champion and member of the 2008 United States Olympic team had competed in ONE since 2014 after spending years as Bellator’s welterweight champion.
Askren has been considered among the top handful of welterweights in MMA since he won Bellator’s 170-pound title back in 2010. However, his level of competition in both Bellator and ONE has always cast a shadow of doubt on Askren’s greatness.
Lawler (28-12 with one no-contest) is coming off a unanimous decision loss to former lightweight champ Rafael Dos Anjos in December of 2017. Lawler sustained a torn ACL during the bout, which has kept him out of the cage in 2018.
UFC 233 is scheduled to be headlined by current flyweight champion Henry Cejudo as he makes his first title defence against current bantamweight kingpin T.J. Dillashaw who will be making his 125-pound debut.
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