UFC lightweight champion Anthony Pettis knows talent when he sees it.
He watched his younger brother Sergio Pettis rise up through the ranks and at only 20 years of age just sign his first UFC contract.
Pettis also knows a training partner at his home gym in Milwaukee that has the skills to compete with the best fighters in the world except he's currently stuck between a rock and a hard place.
Former Olympian turned mixed martial artist Ben Askren for all intents and purposes is a restricted free agent right now—finished the last fight on his current deal with Bellator in late July, but because of a matching period and no offers on the table he's unable to compete.
Bellator CEO Bjorn Rebney has stated in several interviews that they aren't against re-signing their current welterweight champion, but they also aren't exactly racing to offer him a lucrative deal either.
UFC president Dana White has openly expressed interest in attaining Askren's services, but with contract matching rights not likely up for the better part of a year, it's hard to say when he could potentially be available to join the promotion.
Pettis revealed on Thursday during the UFC on Fox: Pettis vs. Thomson press conference that while Askren should be considered one of the best welterweights on the planet, his current situation may lead to his retirement from fighting all together.
"One guy that's on the main stage already, but Ben Askren, he's like stuck in between Bellator and the UFC, thinking about retiring," Pettis said. "He's one of the best guys I've ever trained with. His level of wrestling and how much better he's got at striking is ridiculous. One guy I don't want to see retire, I don't want to see him get lost between organizations."
Askren has been a training partner of Pettis for the last few years under the tutelage of coach Duke Roufus at their home gym in Milwaukee.
While his MMA career is on hold, Askren has picked back up his original sport of wrestling where he continues to teach and will also compete in a match later this year at AGON Wrestling Championships against Quentin Wright, a four-time NCAA All-American wrestler from Penn State.
Askren is undefeated in MMA with a perfect 12-0 record after
only starting in the sport in 2009. With his future in fighting
hanging in the balance over this contract dispute, it appears he
may call it a career before he ever really gets started.
