The highly anticipated bout between Ben Askren and Robbie Lawler has a new date.
UFC confirmed that the welterweight clash between Askren and Lawler will take place at UFC 235 on March 2 in Las Vegas. The bout was originally booked for UFC 233 on Jan. 26, but the organization made the decision to cancel that event after struggling to come up with a suitable main event.
Askren, 34, will be making his UFC debut on the card. He holds a professional record of 18-0 (1 NC) and is a former ONE and Bellator Welterweight Champion. He was brought into the UFC after years of being shunned by UFC President Dana White in a rare MMA trade that involved Demetrious Johnson going to ONE. Askren is known for his elite wrestling and suffocating top game.
Lawler, 36, has dropped two of his last three fights. He hasn't fought since losing a unanimous decision to Rafael dos Anjos in December 2017. Lawler suffered a torn ACL in the bout, which kept him sidelined for all of 2018. He is a former UFC Welterweight Champion and holds a professional record of 28-12 (1 NC).
Lawler vs. Askren is the first official bout announced for UFC 235. Tecia Torres vs. Weili Zhang and Nick Diaz vs. Jorge Masvidal are also expected to take place at the event.
