Ben Askren is a highly decorated American former mixed martial artist and amateur wrestler. A two-time NCAA Division I national champion and four-time All-American at the University of Missouri, he represented the U.S. in freestyle wrestling at the 2008 Olympics. Transitioning to MMA, Askren achieved legendary status by becoming a world champion in both Bellator and ONE Championship, maintaining an undefeated record for the majority of his career. Known for his elite grappling skills and distinct wrestling base, he later made a high-profile move to the UFC. Though his professional MMA career eventually saw its first setbacks, Askren’s technical prowess and outspoken personality made him a central figure in combat sports history. He later pivoted to high-profile crossover boxing matches, further cementing his status as a polarizing yet influential media personality in the sports world.
July 18, 1984: Birth of Ben Askren
On July 18, 1984, Benjamin Michael Askren was born, eventually becoming a prominent American professional mixed martial artist, professional boxer, and Olympic wrestler.
2000: Wisconsin Division I State Wrestling Championship
In 2000, Ben Askren achieved his first Wisconsin Division I state wrestling championship while competing for Arrowhead High School.
2001: Second Wisconsin Division I State Wrestling Championship
During 2001, Ben Askren secured his second Wisconsin Division I state championship title representing Arrowhead High School.
2003: Freshman Collegiate Debut
In 2003, Ben Askren began his freshman wrestling campaign for the Missouri Tigers, marking the start of his collegiate career.
2004: 2004 Big 12 Championship and NCAA Runner-up
During the 2004 season, Askren achieved a significant milestone by winning the Big 12 Conference Championships and finishing as the runner-up at the NCAA Championships.
2005: Pan American Freestyle Wrestling Championship
During the year 2005, Ben Askren secured the title of Pan American champion in the sport of freestyle wrestling.
2006: 2006 Collegiate Awards and Accomplishments
In 2006, Ben Askren received his first Dan Hodge Trophy and Schalles Award, solidifying his status as a dominant athlete in collegiate wrestling.
2007: 2007 Graduation and Multi-Award Success
By 2007, Askren concluded his college career with a legendary record, having earned his second Dan Hodge Trophy and second Schalles Award, graduating with two NCAA championship titles.
2007: US National Championship and Olympic Team Selection
During 2007, Ben Askren successfully adapted his folkstyle wrestling background to freestyle. In April 2007, he won the US National Championship, and by June 2007, he secured a spot on the US Olympic Team.
2008: 2008 Summer Olympics Participation
In 2008, Askren competed at the Summer Olympics. He won his first-round match against István Veréb by fall but was eliminated in the quarterfinals by Iván Fundora, ending his medal prospects.
2008: US Olympic Team Membership
In 2008, Ben Askren achieved a significant career milestone by becoming a member of the US Olympic Team for freestyle wrestling.
2008: Jacob Volkmann's 2008 World Championship Title
In 2008, Jacob Volkmann held the title of World Champion in grappling, which set the stage for his match against Ben Askren in 2009.
February 7, 2009: Professional MMA Debut
On February 7, 2009, Ben Askren made his official professional mixed martial arts debut at the Holiday Inn Select Executive Center in Columbia, Missouri. During this event, he achieved his first professional victory by defeating Josh Flowers via technical knockout early in the first round.
2009: Victory at 2009 FILA World Grappling Championship
In 2009, Ben Askren competed at the 2009 FILA 2nd World Grappling Championship, where he defeated Jacob Volkmann in the 84 kg no-gi division to secure a gold medal.
2009: Amateur World Championships Disc Golf Finish
In 2009, Ben Askren demonstrated his competitive skills in disc golf by achieving a ninth-place finish at the Amateur World Championships.
2009: 2009 ADCC Submission Wrestling World Championship
In 2009, Ben Askren participated in the ADCC Submission Wrestling World Championship held in Barcelona, Spain. During the event, which took place from September 26–27, 2009, he successfully defeated Toni Linden via arm triangle choke in his opening match but was later defeated by Pablo Popovitch, who eventually secured the championship title in the under 77 kg division.
2009: Jake Herbert's World Medal
In 2009, wrestler Jake Herbert earned a silver medal at the World Championships, an achievement that Askren referenced when he defeated Herbert in 2010.
April 15, 2010: Controversial Victory at Bellator 14
On April 15, 2010, Ben Askren defeated Ryan Thomas via technical submission during the Bellator Fighting Championships Season 2 Welterweight Tournament at Bellator 14. The victory was marred by controversy as Thomas protested the referee's decision to stop the fight immediately after Askren released the chokehold.
October 21, 2010: Winning the Bellator Welterweight Championship
On October 21, 2010, Ben Askren defeated Lyman Good in Philadelphia via unanimous decision to secure the Bellator Welterweight Championship title, successfully managing to control his opponent throughout the rounds despite facing significant attacks like an upkick and a near triangle choke.
2010: Askren's 2010 Wrestling Successes
In 2010, Ben Askren achieved multiple wrestling victories, including winning the Dave Schultz Memorial International, defeating Fundora at the Cerro Pelado International in Cuba, and beating Jake Herbert at the Midlands Tournament.
January 9, 2012: Induction into University of Missouri Intercollegiate Athletics Hall of Fame
On January 9, 2012, it was officially announced that Ben Askren would be inducted into the University of Missouri Intercollegiate Athletics Hall of Fame as one of six new members.
April 6, 2012: Bellator 64 Title Defense
On April 6, 2012, Ben Askren successfully defended his championship title against Douglas Lima, the winner of the season 5 welterweight tournament, during the Bellator 64 event held at the Caesars in Windsor, Canada.
January 24, 2013: Bellator 86 Title Defense Against Karl Amoussou
On January 24, 2013, at Bellator 86, Ben Askren successfully defended his title against Karl Amoussou. Utilizing his superior wrestling control, Askren inflicted a severe forehead laceration on Amoussou via an elbow strike, leading to a doctor stoppage between the third and fourth rounds.
November 14, 2013: Release from Bellator MMA
On November 14, 2013, Bellator MMA officially announced that Ben Askren had been released from his contract, rendering him an unrestricted free agent.
December 9, 2013: Signing with ONE Championship
On December 9, 2013, Ben Askren officially signed a contract with the mixed martial arts organization ONE Championship, committing to a two-year, six-fight deal.
August 29, 2014: Victory over Nobutatsu Suzuki
On August 29, 2014, Ben Askren defeated Nobutatsu Suzuki via a first-round technical knockout (TKO) at ONE Fighting Championship: Reign of Champions, securing the ONE Welterweight Championship title.
April 15, 2016: Victory over Nikolay Aleksakhin
On April 15, 2016, Ben Askren defeated Russian fighter Nikolay Aleksakhin via unanimous decision during the ONE Championship: Global Warriors event.
May 26, 2017: Victory over Agilan Thani at ONE Championship: Dynasty of Heroes
On May 26, 2017, Ben Askren defeated Agilan Thani during the ONE Championship: Dynasty of Heroes event by securing a submission victory with an arm-triangle choke in the first round.
September 7, 2017: Victory over Zebaztian Kadestam at ONE Championship: Shanghai
On September 7, 2017, Ben Askren successfully defended his status by defeating Zebaztian Kadestam at the ONE Championship: Shanghai event via a TKO resulting from punches.
November 24, 2017: Retirement bout against Shinya Aoki at ONE Championship: Immortal Pursuit
On November 24, 2017, Ben Askren competed in his final professional fight at ONE Championship: Immortal Pursuit, defeating Shinya Aoki via TKO early in the first round and subsequently announcing his retirement from mixed martial arts.
November 3, 2018: UFC Signs Ben Askren via Trade
On November 3, 2018, it was officially announced that the Ultimate Fighting Championship (UFC) acquired Ben Askren from One Championship as part of a historic trade deal, which saw the UFC send Demetrious Johnson to One Championship in exchange.
March 2, 2019: UFC Debut against Robbie Lawler
On March 2, 2019, Ben Askren made his UFC debut at UFC 235 against Robbie Lawler, securing a victory via a first-round bulldog choke. The match concluded with a controversial stoppage by referee Herb Dean, as replays suggested Lawler may have regained consciousness after his arm went limp, though the Nevada Athletic Commission supported the referee's decision.
May 2019: Beat the Streets Exhibition Match
In May 2019, Ben Askren faced Jordan Burroughs in a wrestling match at the annual Beat the Streets benefit event, ultimately losing by technical superiority.
July 6, 2019: UFC 239 Knockout Loss to Jorge Masvidal
On July 6, 2019, at UFC 239, Ben Askren suffered his first career loss after being knocked out by a flying knee from Jorge Masvidal just five seconds into the opening round, marking the fastest knockout in the history of the UFC.
October 26, 2019: UFC on ESPN+ 20 Fight against Demian Maia
On October 26, 2019, Ben Askren competed against Demian Maia at UFC on ESPN+ 20, ultimately losing the match by technical submission during the third round. Despite the loss, his performance was recognized with the Fight of the Night award.
November 18, 2019: Official Retirement from MMA
On November 18, 2019, Ben Askren formally announced his retirement from professional mixed martial arts competition.
2020: Hip Surgery and Return to Wrestling
In 2020, following a year of retirement from MMA, Ben Askren underwent successful hip surgery and declared his plans to make a comeback to the world of competitive freestyle wrestling.
April 17, 2021: Ben Askren vs. Jake Paul Boxing Match
On April 17, 2021, Ben Askren faced Jake Paul in a professional boxing match. Askren was defeated via technical knockout in the first round of the contest, which generated 500,000 pay-per-view buys.
2021: Interest in MMA Return
Beginning in 2021, Ben Askren publicly discussed his potential interest in returning to mixed martial arts for a specific rematch against his former rival, Masvidal, if the conditions were ideal.
August 2025: Withdrawal from RAF 01 due to health complications
In August 2025, Ben Askren was scheduled to participate as a wrestler in the inaugural Real American Freestyle (RAF 01) event, but he had to withdraw from the competition due to significant health issues.
July 18, 2026: Return to active competition at RAF 11
On July 18, 2026, Ben Askren is scheduled to return to active competition to face opponent Belal Muhammad at the event RAF 11.
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