Ben Askren knows a public beatdown of Jake Paul on April 17 would make headlines all over the world ... and the thought of that kind of fame makes him sick.
The 36-year-old UFC star spoke on Thursday about why it would actually suck MORE to win this weekend ... admitting he doesn't want to be celebrated as an Internet legend if he beats Paul to a pulp.
"I think most fans are more invested in the results of this bout than I am," Askren said at the Triller Fight Club media day.