LAS VEGAS -- By his own admission, Ben Askren had no clue how to strike when he made his mixed martial arts debut in 2009. It didn't take long for the 2008 American Olympic wrestler to develop a reputation as a boring fighter.

But Askren may have found the spot that will quell those complaints. The former Bellator welterweight champion signed with the Singapore-based One FC in December, and will make his debut for the promotion in May.

He'll fight in Singapore for the One FC welterweight title sometime in May -- likely May 30 -- against the winner of the March 14 title fight in Malaysia between Brock Larson and Nobutatsu Suzuki.

One FC uses the old Pride rules, which permit soccer kicks and knees to the head of a downed opponent, techniques which are banned by the unified rules that are used by the UFC.

A great collegiate wrestler, Askren is all but foaming at the mouth to have the knees available to him. He'll go on at length to dispute the contention that his last two fights, finishes in Bellator title matches over Karl Amossou and Andrey Koreshkov, were boring, but he understands that given his wrestling-heavy style, allowing knees on the ground is a godsend for him.

"I'm excited about the new rules," Askren said. "I torture a lot of the guys in my gym. I'll hold them down and fake like I'm throwing a knee to the head and I'll say to them, 'If we're in Asia, you're screwed right now.' The knees on the ground are going to work beautifully in my style. I've played around with it in the gym and I see at least five or six different ways I can successfully implement that technique, especially."

Askren became a free agent after his win over Koreshkov on July 31, though Bellator had the right to match any offer he received for a year. Askren owns and operates two wrestling camps and has his hand in several other businesses and said he could have afforded to sat out the full year to become a total free agent.

Bellator CEO Bjorn Rebney played a game with UFC president Dana White, telling White he'd release Askren free and clear as long as White guaranteed Askren a title shot against then-UFC champion Georges St-Pierre. White scoffed at the offer and insisted he had no interest in Askren.

The sides did have talks, but couldn't reach a deal. Askren spoke with the World Series of Fighting, but opted for the deal with One FC even though he said the offers were very comparable financially.

But Asia's economy is booming and One FC is already available in nearly 1 billion television homes in the region.

He'll fight for the Singapore-based Evolve MMA fight team, but will still train primarily at Roufusport in Milwaukee, Wis.

His striking, he said, is exceptionally better after having worked several years with Roufus, one of the top striking coaches in the world.

His ability to repeatedly take down, and hold down, his opponents has lessened the danger he faces, so it's tactically a wise technique. But his wrestling has hidden his development as a striker, he said.

"Obviously no one ever sees it, but I think my standup is pretty good, actually," Askren said. "A lot of the guys in our gym who are considered good strikers, they would attest to that if you asked them that same question. Obviously, my comfort level on my feet now is through the roof. I know it is very unlikely that anyone is going to stop me from taking them down, but if in fact that does happen, I'm comfortable on my feet. I train with literally some of the best strikers in MMA on a daily basis in the gym, so it's had a huge impact."

Story continues