WORLD mixed martial arts welterweight champion Ben “Funky” Askren will take the cage for one last time today in Singapore at ONE Championship’s “Immortal Pursuit” event and the American fighter is out to exit the only way he knows how to — winning.

After eight years as a professional mixed martial artist and compiling an unblemished record of 17-0, 33-year-old Askren is going to hang up his gloves and concentrate on other pursuits.

His last fight will be against MMA legend and Evolve MMA teammate Shinya Aoki of Japan where he will stake his ONE world welterweight title in the headliner for “ONE: Immortal Pursuit” that will happen at the Singapore Indoor Stadium.

It is an opportunity that he said he is looking forward to for the challenge it presents and a chance to showcase his top-caliber skills for one last time.

“Shinya is a really good final opponent. Obviously, he is a legend of the sport, and he is a really big challenge on the ground, which is where I like to compete, personally. I am excited for this bout,” said Mr. Askren as he prepares for his final fight.

“I said from day one that I am the best in the world at what I do, and this is what I am going to do every single time. I have been saying that since I started in 2009, and I believe it more strongly than ever because I have proved it 17 times now, and I am pumped to prove it again. He’s (Aoki) going to stick around until I put him out,” he added.

Entering the fight today, Mr. Askren in coming off an impressive second-round technical knockout win over Zebaztian “The Bandit” Kadestam in September.

Mr. Aoki (40-7), for his part, is making his cage return after a year since losing the lightweight belt to Filipino Eduard “Landslide” Folayang.

Serving as co-main event is the lightweight clash between Adrian “The Hunter” Pang and Amir Khan.

Also part of the card is Filipino women’s atomweight fighter Gina “Conviction” Iniong, who will take on Mei “V.V.” Yamaguchi of Japan.

Ms. Iniong (6-2) of Team Lakay in Baguio is fighting just two weeks after her last fight in ONE at “Legends in the World” here in Manila and is looking at the Yamaguchi fight as the last step to get a shot at being a world champion.

ONE: Immortal Pursuit will be broadcast live over ABS-CBN S+A beginning at 8:30 p.m. — Michael Angelo S. Murillo

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