Ben Askren is a retired professional mixed martial artist and amateur wrestler from the United States. Ben Askren is also a successful MMA fighter, having won the Bellator and ONE Welterweight Championships.
Quick Facts
| Full Name: | Ben Askren |
|---|---|
| Born Date: | 18 Jul 1984 |
| Age: | 40 years |
| Horoscope: | Cancer |
| Lucky Number: | 11 |
| Lucky Stone: | Moonstone |
| Lucky Color: | Silver |
| Best Match for Marriage: | Taurus, Pisces, Scorpio |
| Gender: | Male |
| Profession: | Former MMA Fighter, Wrestler, businessman, golfer |
| Country: | America |
| Saying: | If you can’t play the good guy, sometimes you’ve got to play the villain. I’ve got more skills in my pinky finger than half the damn guys in the UFC. Colby Covington has a very low IQ. He says a lot of stupid things, and it’s almost embarrassing that he represents our country that way. |
| Height: | 5 feet 1 inch (1.55m) |
| Marital Status: | married |
| Married Date: | April 9, 2010 |
| Husband | Amy Askren |
| Net Worth | $10 million |
| Salary | $500,000 |
| Eye Color | Blue |
| Hair Color | Dark Brown |
| Birth Place | Cedar Rapids, Iowa |
| Nationality | American |
| Religion | Christian |
| Education | The University of Missouri. |
| Father | Chuck Askren |
| Mother | Michele Askren |
| Siblings | Max Askren |
| Kids | 3 |
Ben Askren Biography
Benjamin Michael Askren, better known as Ben Askren, was born on July 18, 1984, in Cedar Rapids, Iowa, USA. He is currently 40 years old and a citizen of the United States. Furthermore, his nickname is Funky, and his zodiac sign is Cancer.
He is also the son of Chuck Askren (father) and Michele Askren (mother). When it comes to siblings, he has a brother named Max Askren. Furthermore, his brother Max is a wrestler who won a national championship in 2010.
Ben Askren Education
In terms of academics, he attended Arrowhead High School, where he completed his high school education. In high school, he was a two-time state wrestling champion. He then attended the University of Missouri.
Ben Askren Height And Weight
Ben Askren stands 5 feet 10 inches tall and weighs approximately 77 kg. Furthermore, he has blue eyes and dark brown hair. Aside from that, no additional information about Ben’s physical measurements is available.
Career
He began his professional wrestling career after graduating from college. As a university amateur wrestler, he competed in the 174-pound weight class during his college wrestling career. He won the National Collegiate Athletic Association Championship match in 2006 and 2007, following consecutive defeats in the same competition in 2004 and 2005. He is still the NCAA single-season pin record holder.
In addition, he won gold medals at the Big 12 Championships in 2006 and 2007. In the 2006-2007 season, he went undefeated with a 42-0 record. He also won the Big 12 Conference Championship in 2004, 2006, and 2007.
Furthermore, he was known for his distinct ‘funky’ wrestling style and pinning abilities at the time. He finished his NCAA wrestling career with a 153-8 record and an incredible 87-match win streak. Ben’s only two opponents during his four years at Missouri were Chris Pendleton of Oklahoma State and Ryan Lange of Purdue. He defeated national runner-up Tyrone Lewis at the US Olympic Trials to earn a spot in the 2008 Summer Olympics.
He also won his first match in the 74 kg weight class. To avenge his Olympic loss, he defeated Cuba’s Fundora in the semifinals of the Cerro Pelado International in 2010. In addition, he competed in the Agon Wrestling Championships and the Flo Premier League.
After the Olympics, he began his fighting training at the American Top Team’s main academy in Florida. On February 7, 2009, he made his professional MMA debut in Columbia, defeating Josh Flowers. Following that, he defeated Mitchell Harris at Patriot Act 2 in Columbia.
More On Career
Following that, in 2009, he competed in the ADCC Submission Wrestling World Championship in Barcelona. He later won gold in the 84 kg division at the 2009 FILA 2o World Grappling Championship. He signed a two-year/six-fight contract with ONE Championship. In 2014, he defeated ONE champion Nobutatsu Suzuki to win the ONE Welterweight Title at ONE FC: Reign of Champions.
He left the company in 2017 and joined UFC in 2018. In March 2019, he defeated Robbie Lawler in the UFC 235 main event. In October 2019, he was defeated by MMA veteran Demian Maia at UFC Fight of the Night. The following month, he announced his retirement from MMA. Aside from MMA and wrestling, he also competed in disc golf.
He won the Mighty MO Advanced, St. Louis Open Advanced, First Class Challenge, and PDGA Amateur World Doubles Championships Advanced in 2009. After retiring, he runs the Askren Wrestling Academy, which he co-founded with his brother Max in 2011. FloWrestling Radio Live, The Funky & FRB Show, and The T-Row & Funky Show are among the podcasts he co-hosts.
He’s also the host of the RUDIS Wrestling Podcast. He has invested in bitcoin and backed companies such as Dollamur Sport, My Bookie, and Reebok. He made his pro boxing debut in 2021 against Jake Paul, an Internet sensation and professional fighter. Furthermore, Paul knocked him out in the first round.
Ben Askren Net Worth And Awards
In 2006 and 2007, Ben Askren received the Schalles Award for Top Collegiate Pinner of the Year. He won the Dan Hodge Trophy for Collegiate Wrestler of the Year in 2006 and 2007. The University of Missouri inducted him into the Intercollegiate Athletics Hall of Fame in 2012. His net worth is estimated to be around $10 million as of February 2024, and he earns around $500,000 per year.
Ben Askren Wife, Marriage
Ben Askren married Amy Askren in front of their family and friends on April 9, 2010. The couple has three children: one son and two unnamed daughters. As of now, the former fighter is not involved in any controversy or rumors and is concentrating on his career.
