Robbie Lawler Wants A Rematch With Ben Askren, Who Shoots It Down

Ben Askren made his UFC debut at UFC 235, scoring a controversial submission win over former UFC Welterweight Champion Robbie Lawler.

Lawler, who says he wasn’t out from the bulldog choke applied by Askren, would like a rematch.

“I just kind of roll with the punches and try to be positive about the situation,” he said to MMA Junkie. “I’d like to run it back. I just don’t like making excuses.”

Herb Dean was the official for the fight and has not commented on the controversial stoppage on the UFC 235 bout.

UFC President Dana White echoes Lawler’s sentiments, wanting to put a rematch together between the two.

“We got to do the rematch on that one, it’s only fair,” White said to TSN. “(Askren) looked rough. It’s hard to come into the UFC for your first fight and shine and look great. It’s not easy. I don’t care who you are, or where you’ve been, or what you’ve done. This is a tough stage to come onto for the first time.”

Askren, who was victorious on that night, is shooting down any potential rematch between himself and Lawler.

“I pass (on a rematch),” Askren said at the UFC 235 post-fight news conference (via MMA Junkie). “I guess we’ll have that discussion. I would like to fight the winner of Till vs. Masvidal, I think that makes a whole lot of sense where the division is concerned. I didn’t really want to fight Robbie in the first place. The first matchup they offered I said yes. I did that.”

The debuting Askren became the sixth fighter to submit Lawler and the first to accomplish the deed in over eight years.