Former UFC welterweight Ben Askren has been dealing with the toughest battle of his life lately. He was fighting a severe case of pneumonia that required a double lung transplant. The 41 year old wrestling legend has been in and out of hospitals, keeping fans updated through social media about his ongoing health struggles. Despite facing such serious medical challenges, Askren recently showed the kind of class that reminds everyone why he was respected both inside and outside the octagon.<\/p>
‘Funky’ has always been known for his trash talk and ability to get under opponents’ skin. But his recent gesture toward former rival Kamaru Usman tells a different story. Their beef dates back to 2019. Askren had just scored a controversial submission victory over Robbie Lawler, while Usman claimed the welterweight title by defeating Tyron Woodley on the same UFC<\/a> 235 card. What started as typical pre-fight promotion escalated into a real feud that never got settled in the octagon.<\/p> While recovering in the hospital, Askren received a visit from an old friend who brought up some familiar territory. The friend started using the nickname “Marty from Nebraska” when referring to Kamaru Usman, something that had become a running joke in MMA circles for years. This particular nickname always got under Usman’s skin, and Askren was the one who originally popularized it during their heated exchanges back in 2019. The whole thing started when Askren kept calling Usman “Marty” instead of his preferred name, which led to backstage confrontations and security having to step in.<\/p> But instead of encouraging his friend to keep using the disrespectful nickname, Askren did something completely unexpected. He shut down the conversation immediately and told his buddy that calling Usman “Marty” wasn’t acceptable anymore. <\/p> “Had an old friend come visit me at the hospital and he brought up Marty from Nebraska and I said you can’t call him Marty anymore bc he will get pi**ed. My buddy was flabbergasted !”<\/em><\/strong><\/p>Ben Askren Corrects Friend About ‘Marty’<\/h2>