Ben Askren wasn’t your average fighter. Yeah, he didn’t have that knockout power like some UFC guys, but what made him different was how insanely good he was at wrestling. He made a name for himself way before the UFC — dominating in college wrestling and later in MMA promotions like Bellator and ONE Championship. Love him or hate him, the dude had a crazy ride.
Dominated College Wrestling — No Joke
Let’s start at the beginning. Askren wrestled for the University of Missouri and was basically a beast. He was a two-time NCAA Division I national champ (2006 and 2007) and a four-time finalist. He also won the Dan Hodge Trophy twice, which is like the Heisman of college wrestling. People used to joke he made it look too easy — his funky, unorthodox style just confused his opponents. He ended his college career with a record of 153 wins and only 8 losses.
Made Waves in MMA Before the UFC Even Noticed
After college, Ben shifted to MMA, and honestly, he took over pretty fast. He started out in Bellator, where he won the welterweight title in just his seventh pro fight. He defended it four times before moving on. Then he went to ONE Championship in Asia and did the same thing — won the belt and kept it. By the time the UFC came calling, he was already undefeated with a 19–0 record (plus one no-contest). His grappling was so dominant that most fighters just couldn’t stop the takedowns.
Short but Wild UFC Run
Ben’s UFC career was… well, kind of all over the place. He debuted in 2019 with a win over Robbie Lawler that people still argue about — some say the ref stopped it too early. Then came the famous knockout loss to Jorge Masvidal — yep, that flying knee that ended the fight in just five seconds. It’s still the fastest KO in UFC history. After a tough submission loss to Demian Maia, Ben stepped away from fighting.
Career Summary at a Glance
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College Wrestling: 2x NCAA Champion, 4x finalist, Dan Hodge Trophy winner
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Olympics: Competed for Team USA in 2008
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MMA Record: 19-2-1 (1 no contest)
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Titles: Bellator Welterweight Champ, ONE Welterweight Champ
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UFC: Fought 3 times, won 1, lost 2
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Retired: 2020 (officially) after hip surgery
What Made Askren Stand Out
Askren wasn’t flashy or aggressive on the feet, but he was relentless. He’d take you down, hold you there, and just wear you out. He didn’t care if it looked boring — he just wanted to win. And he did. Plus, he was super active on social media and podcasts, where his humor and trash talk made him a favorite (or a villain) depending on who you asked.
