Ben Askren faces Shinya Aoki in retirement fight in November
ONE Championship welterweight champion Ben Askren will be fighting his last fight against Shinya Aoki this November.
After eight years as a professional mixed martial artist, undefeated ONE Championship welterweight titleholder Ben Askren will be hanging up his gloves for good to assume a new role with the company. For the former Bellator MMA champion’s retirement fight, he is slated to face grappling whiz Shinya Aoki.
Askren and Aoki will be part of ONE Championship’s Singapore card on November 24th, as confirmed by the company’s founder Chatri Sityodtong in a recent Facebook post.
I am thrilled to announce two world title fights for ONE Championship: Immortal Pursuit in Singapore on November 24!
Angela Lee (8-0) vs Mei"V.V" Yamaguchi (16-10)
Ben Askren (17-0) vs Shinya Aoki (39-7)
Angela and Mei have agreed to what will arguably be the most anticipated rematch in the history of martial arts in Asia. Also, for the 1st time in ONE history, two athletes from the same team will go to battle for a world title. In what will be a ferocious contest between two great white sharks, Shinya Aoki and Ben Askren have decided to lay it all on the line. Win or lose, this fight will be Ben's last. Ben has made the decision to retire after this fight to become an executive at ONE. You do not want to miss this mega event in Singapore!
Aoki last saw action last November when he fought Filipino veteran Eduard Folayang for the ONE Championship lightweight strap. Aoki dropped the title via third round TKO, which also marked his first loss in four years.
Askren, on the other hand, is coming off a successful second title defense on Saturday night against Zebaztian Kadestam in Shanghai, where he won via second round TKO.