Ben Askren has been hitting the pads ahead of his bout against Jake Paul on Saturday night and fans think the former UFC and ONE fighter is much improved.
Back in February, concerns were raised over the 36-year-old's boxing technique after he uploaded a clip of his striking.
Askren's technique and stance left a lot to be desired as he pummeled the heavy bag with a series of punches.
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Was he playing mind games or is he being for real, here? You decide.
Askren, who hasn't fought since his submission defeat to Demian Maia at UFC Fight Night back in 2019, will make his boxing debut in a scheduled eight-round cruiserweight bout against Paul on April 17th.
The fight will be broadcast on pay-per-view and Triller, with millions tuning in to watch the events unfold inside Atlanta's Mercedes-Benz Stadium.
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So how does Askren look ahead of the bout? A clip of the retired MMA fighter hitting the pads has emerged onine and fans are impressed by his progress.
You can see the YouTube clip below.
One fan said: "He's actually improved a lot respect to his trainers." while another commented: "Looks much better now. Love the shirt though. "Everybody has a plan till they get punched in the face" Thats a little jab for Jake."
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Askren recently appeared on an episode of Logan Paul's IMPAULSIVE to discuss the upcoming bout with his brother.
"I always think with something like this... there's the skill of whatever you're doing. There's also the skill of being a competitor. You know, he's only fought two times against guys who weren't really all that high level," he says.
"His skill as a combat athlete probably isn't that high yet, and it's gonna take a while to get there."
Who will win on Saturday night? Jake Paul or Ben Askren?
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Let us know in the comments.
Featured Image Credit: YouTube/Ben AskrenTopics: Ben Askren, Boxing, Jake Paul, MMA, YouTube
