In brief

  • Former UFC star Ben “Funky” Askren promoted a Solana meme coin before leaving the hospital.
  • The $1,200 “rug pulled” project allegedly stemmed from a paid promotion by Sahil Arora.
  • Arora countered accusations it was a hack, claiming it was legitimate work paid for by Askren.

Former UFC star Ben Askren had been out of the hospital less than a day when he promoted a token that “rug pulled” its investors shortly afterward.

The token—dubbed “FUNKY,” Askren’s ring nickname—launched on a Solana platform and quickly tanked. Its deployer cashed out approximately $1,200 shortly after deployment.

Decrypt reports the token launch bore the hallmarks of a classic crypto “rug pull,” a type of exit scam prevalent in the meme coin space.

Sahil Arora, The Paid Promoter

The appearance of Askren’s promotion is linked to Sahil Arora, the notorious celebrity coin creator whose previous projects, including one associated with Caitlyn Jenner, have also collapsed.

According to Decrypt, Arora confirmed Askren was aware of the coin but was paid to promote it. Numerous social media users questioned whether a fighter recently released from a severe battle with pneumonia (which required a double lung transplant earlier this month), should be involved in such ventures.

The UFC Star’s Recovery

Askren had been hospitalized dealing with a severe case of pneumonia. His condition was critical, nearly fatal on multiple occasions, and he stated he had no recollection of the entire month of June.

His two-month hospital stay ended on Tuesday, however, he resumed commentary very quickly on the crypto world.

Arora’s History and Payment

Arora told Decrypt he’d paid Askren (via wire) “[an] undisclosed amount,” disputing claims Askren had been hacked or misled. His firm “Funky media team” offered no comment requested by Decrypt.

Arora has built his reputation by orchestrating similar schemes for celebrities like Caitlyn Jenner, Jason Derulo, and Rich the Kid, often arranging misleading promotions. He contends he paid mid-five figures for Askren’s promotion and argues the funds were meant to help cover Askren’s lung transplant costs.

However, his payment promises have previously gone unverified, and Arora has faced accusations of not following through on remuneration.

Post Survives The Flop: Arora’s Luck?

Despite the coin’s catastrophic failure, Askren’s initial post remains live on X. This is unusual for Arora-linked tokens; his past schemes usually see the celebrity authorizing a post removal shortly after.

The FUNKY token flopped—peaking at under $30,000 market cap—letting Arora tell Decrypt this particular scramble left him out of pocket.

Disclaimer: This story is about alleged fake crypto projects and does not constitute financial advice. All such tokens carry significant risks.