Topic: Ben Askren

How far can Askren go?

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old dirt dog

Member Since: 2010.10.13
Predictions: 447 | 66.7%
Forum Posts: 236
Post Score: 33

04.10.2011 | 9:45 PM ET

Nick Thompson is not the best welterweight out there, but he's a real fighter, very experienced. Askren went through him like he wasn't even there. Now he will be training with Duke Roufus and all the destroyers up in that gym. Undoubtedly his striking will get better and his submissions will get better. And has anyone at welterweight ever had wrestling and grappling position ability like him before? I don't think so.

The question then is how far can Askren go in this sport? Can he go all the way to UFC gold? Forget any specific matchup or worrying about how he would do against GSP. 3, 4 years from now, who knows what GSP is doing or what weight class he's at, or what any other fighter is doing. Instead just look at Askren and decide if you think he has championship potential (future potential).

My answer: I think he is, I think he's that good.

Fighter Details

Name: Ben Askren
Pro MMA Record: 19-2-0, 1 NC (Win-Loss-Draw)
Nickname: Funky
Current Streak: 2 Losses
Age: 1984-07-18 | Date of Birth: 1984.07.18
Last Fight: October 26, 2019 in UFC
Weight Class: Welterweight | Last Weigh-In: 171.0 lbs
Affiliation: Roufusport MMA Academy
Height: 5'11" (181cm) | Reach: 71.0" (180cm)
Career Disclosed Earnings: $1,160,000 USD
Born: Cedar Rapids, Iowa
Fighting out of: Hartland, Wisconsin, United States
College: University of Missouri
Foundation Style: Wrestling
Head Coach: Duke Roufus
Other Coaches: N/A
Fighter Links:
Personal Links:

Responses Page 2
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Kalibo

Location: PA
Member Since: 2011.03.27
Predictions: 33,130 | 62.8%
Forum Posts: 16,800
Post Score: 185

04.13.2011 | 11:14 PM ET

Hopefully he'll stay in Bellator for a little longer while working on his striking. I think he has all kinds of potential.

"All men can see these tactics whereby I conquer, but what none can see is the strategy out of which victory is evolved" – Sun Tzu, "The Art of War"

TacomaTerror

Location: Tacoma
Member Since: 2010.12.11
Predictions: 149 | 60.4%
Forum Posts: 480
Post Score: 59

04.14.2011 | 11:35 AM ET

Right now I look at Askren like a smaller Chael Sonnen when it comes to how powerful his takedown is.

If he could compliment that ground game with some striking he will be fantastic.

" ."All praise is to Allah, I'll fight any man, any animal, if Jesus were here I'd fight him too." "

SoccerKick

Location: Colorado
Member Since: 2011.02.09
Predictions: 32,055 | 61.8%
Forum Posts: 13,504
Post Score: 186

04.14.2011 | 11:43 AM ET

With Askren Roufussports just got that much better...They now have have an elite wrestler to train their fighters to go along with possibly the best striking coach in the business...Don't be surprised if Roufussports becomes even bigger in MMA

"I'm too old to be run by the fears of dumb people "

Jono

Member Since: 2011.01.07
Predictions: 2,901 | 67.9%
Forum Posts: 417
Post Score: 54

04.14.2011 | 2:54 PM ET

@SoccerKick - didn't even think about that until you mentioned it, very good point. Hopefully he tightens up some takedown defense for pettis on his upcoming bout with guida.

Joker313

Location: Michigan
Member Since: 2010.12.30
Predictions: 34,431 | 65.4%
Forum Posts: 575
Post Score: 215

04.14.2011 | 7:15 PM ET

I think a top level striker would take him out.

Kalibo

Location: PA
Member Since: 2011.03.27
Predictions: 33,130 | 62.8%
Forum Posts: 16,800
Post Score: 185

04.14.2011 | 8:32 PM ET

A top level striker with take down defence. Alvarez anyone? Now that would be a fight.

"All men can see these tactics whereby I conquer, but what none can see is the strategy out of which victory is evolved" – Sun Tzu, "The Art of War"

Gregory

Location: Boston
Member Since: 2010.05.24
Predictions: 6,817 | 63.3%
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04.14.2011 | 8:42 PM ET

I suspect Askren could make it to lightweight. He's not a huge welterweight, so I think an Alvarez vs Askren fight wouldn't be too big of a size difference.

Maybe Bellator could actually put this fight together down the road. It would grab them a lot of attention.

"I live, I die, I live again."

minotauro11

Location: St. Louis
Member Since: 2011.01.06
Predictions: 2,483 | 66.5%
Forum Posts: 4,493
Post Score: 148

04.14.2011 | 11:11 PM ET

That would be a really cool fight. I'd pick Askren for sure. Obviously Alvarez has the striking advantage, but I don't think he will have enough power to stop Askren in the 30 seconds at the beginning of each round (before he gets taken down). Askren's wrestling is unreal.

"We Are All One"

jmcdowell

Location: Capital City
Member Since: 2012.01.07
Predictions: 1,448 | 63.7%
Forum Posts: 450
Post Score: 188

10.04.2013 | 2:55 PM ET

I hate you Bjorn Rebney. . . .I HATE you

"“I firmly believe that any man's finest hour, the greatest fulfillment of all that he holds dear, is the moment when he has worked his heart out in a good cause and lies exhausted on the field of battle - victorious” - Lombardi"

Anik

Location: Montréal
Member Since: 2011.10.07
Predictions: 6,592 | 62.5%
Forum Posts: 17,508
Post Score: 160

10.04.2013 | 4:32 PM ET

People keep talking about Askren losing if he faces a guy with takedown defense...does that really make any sense?

Jose Aldo will lose if he faces a better striker, GSP will lose to a better wrestler, Anderson Silva will lose to a better grappler, Jon Jones will lose if he faces a guy with takedown defense (and he nearly did)...do you understand the point I am making?

Of course Ben Askren would lose to a guy with excellent takedown defense, but how many fighters are there that could wrestle defensively as well as Ben Askren wrestles offensively? Please.

Ben Askren is on a whole other level of grappling. The UFC welterweights better watch the **** out.

* Edited at 10.04.2013, 4:33 PM ET *

"الله أكبرl"

Gregory

Location: Boston
Member Since: 2010.05.24
Predictions: 6,817 | 63.3%
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Post Score: 275

10.04.2013 | 8:31 PM ET

Pretty epic bump from @jmcdowell.... meanwhile, 2 1/2 years later...

"I live, I die, I live again."

Franklin880088

Location: MASS
Member Since: 2010.05.28
Predictions: 1,570 | 59.7%
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10.04.2013 | 9:30 PM ET

I think Akskren would lose to several fighters in UFC welterweight division especially in 5 round fights. I think Condit would be a nightmare for Askren and would finish him. Think Kampman could be a real issue for Aksren in 5 rounder. I think Hendrick has good shot of finishing Askren and winnidng 3 rounder but may lose a 5 rounder. I think Kos could be an issue for him and of course GSP would merk him. I feel like there are more but I am just drawing blanks at the moment.

"here I come to save the day"

NoJuice11

Location: Maryland
Member Since: 2012.04.18
Predictions: 8,305 | 63.0%
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10.04.2013 | 10:04 PM ET

If Martin Kampmann can take Condit down for a full 5 minutes, dont think Askren would be able to do that for 25 minutes? I think condit COULD beat askren if avoided takedowns for sure, but if Askren got it to the floor, he can keep a franetic pace on top of a world class fighter like Condit, IMO

"Dude everyone knows Shaq got rich off playing in college"-Baseketball

zarog

Location: Milky Way Galaxy
Member Since: 2011.11.07
Predictions: 2,855 | 63.8%
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10.04.2013 | 10:10 PM ET

We might get to find out. Bjorn Rebney wants him out of Bellator, but I'm not sure Dana really wants to see a guy that's basically Jon Fitch, only an even better wrestler. Hopefully Dana's willing to take him so that we can find out if Askren really is that good (obviously his pure wrestling is) or if part of his success has been inferior opposition.

"Surrender??!! You think this letter on my head stands for France?" - Captain America

AnAlias

Member Since: 2011.08.22
Predictions: 7,888 | 63.4%
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Post Score: 246

10.04.2013 | 11:23 PM ET

Askren would be a tough test for anyone. I would love to see how he would do against some of the great wrestlers with dangerous striking in the UFC.

Pierce, Hendricks, Koscheck, Ellenberger, Woodley, Story...GSP of course... Maybe Askren gets exposed....or maybe his funkyness is good enough to wrangle some or even most of these guys. I would love to find out.

Nomad

Location: Head-Smashed-In Buffalo Jump
Member Since: 2013.04.05
Predictions: 3,465 | 66.3%
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10.04.2013 | 11:41 PM ET

Askren vs Maia or Palhares is literally a dead end for him before his journey even starts. I think Ellenberger or Hendricks would stuff the takedowns and put their fists through his head. GSP would stick and move for 25 minutes, maybe even knock Askren out. I think Askren is great and should be in the UFC I also think he can easily pull the upset on some guys Condit, Brown, Silva, Kim, Lawler ect though I dont think any of those fights are easy for him nor would I be surprised if he lost any of them. Hes arguably a top 10 WW he belongs in the UFC also, one of the most bizarre wrestlers ever theres not much preparing for a guy like Askren.

* Edited at 10.04.2013, 11:43 PM ET *

"If I have a goal, then it is to escape from this literalism. I'll never achieve it; in the same way that I'll never manage to describe what really dwells within my character, although I keep on trying."

JeremyBrigham81

Location: Arkansas
Member Since: 2013.09.20
Predictions: 25,137 | 62.9%
Forum Posts: 819
Post Score: 248

10.04.2013 | 11:51 PM ET

Askren would have no problem with Palhares , I think he beats Ellenberger and possibly Hendricks as well. I do think Maia would beat him but thats not a given. Askrens wrestling is legit , he gives almost every WW in UFC a test win or lose.

buffalo ben

Location: Bogotá, Colombia
Member Since: 2011.08.31
Predictions: 3,705 | 58.2%
Forum Posts: 6,348
Post Score: 157

10.04.2013 | 11:54 PM ET

I suppose as far as is humanly possible outside of the UFC. I can´t really envision Joe Silva being in a hurry to sign him. The welterweight division is probably the most stacked of any in the ufc, and Askren is suprisingly unpopular for a fighter of his caliber.

edit: you really think he beats Hendricks??

* Edited at 10.04.2013, 11:55 PM ET *

"You don't have to be perfect, just dont be fraudulant"

Nomad

Location: Head-Smashed-In Buffalo Jump
Member Since: 2013.04.05
Predictions: 3,465 | 66.3%
Forum Posts: 5,117
Post Score: 181

10.04.2013 | 11:56 PM ET

How does Askren beat Palhares? Trick him into running out of the cage thinking hes won before the fight has actually ended?

JeremyBrigham81

Location: Arkansas
Member Since: 2013.09.20
Predictions: 25,137 | 62.9%
Forum Posts: 819
Post Score: 248

10.05.2013 | 12:04 AM ET

@buffaloben I think he has a chance of it yes. If I were betting on it I would take Hendricks but don't forget Rick Story beat Hendricks so it is a real possibility in my mind.

@Nomad He beats Palhares by taking him down and constantly changing positions so Palhares can't grab a leg lock. Palhares is a one trick pony that Belcher beat on the ground.

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