Askren fight off after Santos refuses second-chance weigh-in

ONE Championship welterweight champion Ben Askren walks out to the cage to defend his title against Luis Santos on April 24 in Pasay, Philippines. The bout ended in a no-contest when Santos couldn‘t continue after an eye poke. (ONE FC)

One of the top fighters in the world not under contract with the Ultimate Fighting Championship had a scheduled fight canceled on Friday night.

Ben Askren was due to defend his ONE Championship welterweight title against Luis Santos in Singapore, but the fight didn’t happen.

According to the organization’s CEO, Santos missed weight on Thursday and then refused an offer from Askren to make a 190-pound catchweight on Friday afternoon.

“I’m disgusted,” Victor Cui posted on Twitter. “Sapo fails to make weight then despite Askren offering a fight at 190lbs, Sapo still refuses. Completely unprofessional.”

Santos weighed in at 172 pounds, two pounds over the welterweight title limit, on Thursday.

He elected not to take Askren up on the 190-pound compromise after rehydrating in what would have become a non-title bout.

The fight was supposed to be a rematch of a controversial bout from April that ended in a no-decision when Santos couldn’t continue after an accidental eye poke in the first round.

Cui responded to a tweet from a media member that he believes Santos is “scared” to fight Askren.

The champion expressed a similar thought.

“No fight, he didn’t want to show up,” Askren posted on Twitter.

Contact reporter Adam Hill at ahill@reviewjournal.com or 702-224-5509. Follow him on Twitter: @adamhilllvrj