The MMA website MMAUNO.com reports that the 16-0 Askren will face Sweden's Zebaztian Kadestam, with a 9-3 record, at Shanghai Oriental Sports Stadium in Shanghai, China on Sept. 2.
Askren posted the following message on his Facebook page last week: "Oh baby, it is go time!"
In an interview with TheFightNetwork, Askren said, "I'm pumped to fight in Shanghai and pumped to be fighting again so soon."
It will be Askren's third title defense, the last one just two months ago. In May 2017, the Wisconsin native got a first-round submission of Agilan Thani with an arm-triangle choke.
It was at that same event that Kadestam made his ONE Championship debut, stopping former welterweight challenger Luis Santos, snapping the Brazilian's five-year, ten-fight undefeated streak.
Prior to launching his pro MMA career in 2009, the 33-year-old Askren was a highly accomplished amateur wrestler. He was a four-time NCAA finalist for Missouri, winning titles in 2006 and 2007. Askren earned a place on the U.S. men's freestyle team for the 2008 Beijing Olympics.
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