Ben Askren surprised the MMA world Monday by announcing his retirement, just over a year after making a much-hyped entrance to the UFC. The former Bellator and ONE welterweight champion went 1-2 in the company, with a high-profile win over Robbie Lawler, a legendary knockout loss to Jorge Masvidal, and a submission loss to Demian Maia. So what is Askren’s UFC legacy? MMA Junkie’s Mike Bohn, Nolan King, and Dave Doyle hash it out in Triple Take.
Mike Bohn: Ben Askren UFC run was successful for selfish reasons
It doesn’t feel very successful at the moment, but after some time elapses, Askren will look back fondly on his UFC tenure. The results weren’t what he wanted, but it will still go down as the most important and telling chapter of his career.
Yeah, Askren did some good things in Bellator and ONE Championship. Better than that, actually. He won the welterweight title in both promotions. The competition always left something to be desired, though, and as Askren racked up a 18-0 record outside the UFC, both fans and the man himself were left asking the same question: How good is Ben Askren?
The opportunity to find out didn’t come until the unprecedented “trade” for Demetrious Johnson, which went down when Askren was in his mid-30s and already retired, but “Funky” still ultimately discovered where he stands in the sport. And despite his strongest beliefs and efforts, it wasn’t at the top.
No doubt that’s a disappointing reality for him, but now Askren can walk away with peace of mind. He will not grow old agonizing about never getting his UFC shot or being able to share the octagon with some of the absolute best 170-pound fighters out there. Those experiences should serve as comfort as Askren transitions into the next chapter of life, and that’s invaluable.
Askren got his answers about his ceiling as an MMA fighter, and despite a hip replacement surgery being on the horizon, he did so with his health largely in check. He also made quality money for three UFC fights he never expected to happen in the first place.
Is all that worth trading the past year of his life and an undefeated record for? Askren would almost certainly say so.
Next page — Nolan King: Askren proved he was a star
Nolan King: Askren suffered failure in competition, but proved he was a star
I’ll admit it. I doubted Ben Askren. Even though he lost two out of his three UFC bouts and his lone win was controversial, Askren proved me wrong in a lot of ways.
Sure, getting brutally KO’d by Jorge Masvidal in five seconds, then submitted by Demian Maia isn’t the best look – especially for someone who long called themselves the best in the world.
That said, Askren’s UFC failures inside the cage were lessened by his rise to stardom. For years, Askren was known and loved by diehard followers of MMA.
By going to ONE Championship, Askren became a star in a non-American market. But how would that translate in his return to mainstream American MMA? When he was traded, I wasn’t sure fans would catch on.
Boy, was I wrong.
In his promotional debut, Askren was seemingly the biggest star on UFC 235 – an event which featured Jon Jones, Tyron Woodley, Kamaru Usman, Zabit Magomedsharipov, Robbie Lawler, and more. His press conference antics and humor in interviews became appointment viewing.
His star power carried into UFC 239 in July. Even though he lost in devastating fashion, Askren is partially responsible for Masvidal’s skyrocket in popularity. Against another opponent, I’m not sure Masvidal’s soaring knee would have been as life-changing.
Askren made people interested, which is the name of the game. MMA is a business, after all. Quite frankly, becoming a “draw” is an accolade many of the most talented fighters fail to achieve.
Competitively speaking, Askren’s UFC tenure was a failure by most standards. Overall however, Askren’s venture into the UFC came too late, but he proved he was a star – and that’s a successful outcome within itself.
Next page — Dave Doyle: Sometimes, wins and losses don’t matter in the big picture
Dave Doyle: Sometimes, wins and losses don’t matter in the big picture
I guess since I’m up last, I’m supposed to come up with some sort of viewpoint that differs with the rest, but I’m not going to force a “Ben Askren’s UFC stint was a disaster” hot take for it’s own sake.
I mean, if you want to make that case, sure. Losing via five-second knockout and then getting beaten on the ground by a 41-year-old when you pride yourself on your wrestling probably wasn’t what the former Bellator and ONE welterweight champion had in mind when he finally got his UFC opportunity.
But here’s the thing: Askren has always made better decisions for his long-term future than most fighters, and that counts for something. When his Bellator contract came up, ONE Championship offered him far more money, to take far less damage, and any other promotion was offering at the time. Too many fighters end their career with too much damage and not enough in their bank accounts. Askren won’t have to worry about that.
He was already retired when the UFC opportunity knocked. He got to go on something closer to his own terms than most fighters experienced. From the get-go, he did his part to create excitement for his fights like few competitors on the roster have done in their entire careers. And when things didn’t go his way, he didn’t make excuses for what happened and just straight-up owned it. All of that matters when considering one’s legacy.
And let’s not forget the highlight on his UFC resume: The win over Robbie Lawler. Yes, the stoppage will long be debated. Askren has no control over what the referee does. What Askren did do, was keep his wits after being slammed on his head by Lawler and with Lawler unleashing his strikes with the efficiency that gave him the nickname “Ruthless.” Askren survived and turned things back in his favor. That’s the MMA equivalent of being attacked by a hungry shark and living to tell about it.
Ben Askren is an MMA original. He left a bigger mark on the UFC in a year than most fighters ever do. If you’re judging his stint in the UFC by won-loss record, you’re missing the point.
