Mixed Martial Arts neighborhood was shocked Wednesday mid-day when ESPN’s Ariel Helwani reported that the UFC and also ONE Champion were close to completing a bargain to basically switch Demetrious Johnson for Ben Askren. No “profession” similar to this has actually ever before happened in the sporting activity, and also currently it is occurring with among the pound-for-pound fantastic and also an unbeaten welterweight that was champ in 2 promotions.Let’s break down one of the most sixty-four-thousand-dollar questions increased by this unmatched action.

Is the profession done?

No, yet it is close to being finished. Both sides, according to Helwani, are straightening out the last arrangements.

Achieved light-weight Eddie Alvarez has actually authorized an unique manage Asia-based battle promo One Champion.

Is this a real ‘profession’?

No, not in itself. Since it entails 2 companies and also competitors under the agreement, the professional athletes can not merely be switched. Johnson will certainly be launched from his UFC agreement, released to authorize with ONE. Askren will certainly be launched from his ONE agreement, released to authorize with the UFC. Both sides have actually concurred that these ultimate finalizing will certainly happen.

That is included?

Demetrious Johnson was the UFC’s initial flyweight champ. He safeguarded his belt 11 successive times to damage Anderson Silva’s UFC document. That touch finished in his latest battle in August, when Henry Cejudo won a close split choice. Prior to that, Johnson was rated as ESPN’s leading pound-for-pound competitor.

Ben Askren was a four-time All-American wrestler at Missouri, asserting 2 nationwide titles. He completed in the 2008 Olympics. After university, he started learning Mixed Martial Arts and also ultimately authorized with Bellator. He came to be the promo’s welterweight champ in 2010 and also safeguarded the title 4 times prior to entrusting to authorize with ONE. He won that promo’s belt in2014 After his last protection, in November, he revealed he was retiring. He continues to be unbeaten.

What is ONE Champion?

Obviously you understand the UFC. ONE Champion? Some might have damaged their heads questioning why the UFC’s long time flyweight champ would certainly wish to leave for a smaller sized company. ONE, nonetheless, isn’t as tiny as you might believe. The Singapore-based business is the biggest worldwide sporting activities media building in the background of Asia. The promo’s Kingdom of Heroes card previously this month had 25 million customers throughout all systems, according to Nielsen. ONE, established in 2011, authorized previous UFC and also Bellator light-weight champ Eddie Alvarez recently to a bargain he states deserves “8 numbers.”

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Why did the profession occur?

Askren, 34, determined to retire as ONE’s welterweight champ after 4 years of controling competitors in the company. He felt he had actually accomplished what he required to. That claimed, when he made the option to tip away, he recognized that he would certainly return for the ideal spell. It might come earlier than later on with his entrance right into the UFC. There’s no lack of prospective challengers that would certainly be of passion, consisting of long time UFC welterweight champ Georges St-Pierre.

Johnson’s objective to leave the UFC is a little bit much more complex. He has actually had issues with the promo for many years based upon monetary rewards and also PPV factors. In spite of his preeminence in the department, he thinks the UFC did not market him sufficient to make him the super star he saw himself coming to be. The flyweight department, the lightest competitors on the lineup, have actually usually attracted reduced viewership numbers contrasted to various other weight courses.

One more element for Johnson’s passion in this action might be his solid partnership with Matt Hume, his head trainer at AMC Pankration in Kirkland, Washington. Johnson, 32, will certainly understand precisely what to anticipate from his brand-new residence, as Hume is likewise vice head of state of procedures for ONE Champion.

Is the UFC’s flyweight department at risk?

This continues to be to be seen, though the UFC has actually not attracted solid viewership numbers for battles in this department. Currently, with flyweight’s most significant celebrity gone and also with present champ Cejudo sharing passion in tough bantamweight champ TJ Dillashaw, concerns stay concerning the long-lasting practicality of the weight course.

Whom could each competitor face in his brand-new company?

The noticeable initial challenger for Askren is St-Pierre. The long time welterweight champ lately informed ESPN he would certainly return just for battles that would significantly affect his heritage. This might be that battle, as GSP would certainly be dealing with an unbeaten, two-promotion champ.

Johnson need to action in and also defend ONE’s flyweight belt instantly. That indicates dealing with Geje Eustaquio, a Filipino competitor that asserted the title previously this year. He’s 11 -6 in his expert profession.

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