Ben Askren is an American former professional mixed martial artist, professional boxer, and Olympic wrestler. He was the former Bellator and ONE Welterweight Champion, remaining undefeated for over a decade before competing in the Ultimate Fighting Championship (UFC).
You can follow Ben Askren’s biography, personal details,career details, wife, net worth, fight purses, endorsements, fight records, achievements, and more here.
Ben Askren’s Biography
| Detail | Information |
| Full Name | Benjamin Michael Askren |
| Nickname | Funky |
| Birth Date | July 18, 1984 |
| Height | 5’10” (177.8 cm) |
| Weight | 170 lbs (77.11 kg) |
| Birthplace | Cedar Rapids, Iowa, USA |
| Nationality | American |
| College | University of Missouri |
| Turned Professional | 2009 |
| Current Net Worth | $500,000 |
| Relationship Status | Married |
| Wife | Amy Askren |
| Insta | @benaskren |
Ben Askren was born on July 18, 1984, in Cedar Rapids, Iowa. Askren attended the University of Missouri.
During his college years, he was teammates with future UFC Welterweight Champion Tyron Woodley and future Bellator Lightweight Champion Michael Chandler.
Early Career
Ben Askren’s wrestling career began to flourish during his college years at the University of Missouri. He became a two-time NCAA Division I national champion and a four-time finalist.
Askren also won three Big 12 Conference championships and was a four-time finalist. His exceptional performances earned him the Dan Hodge Trophy twice. Askren’s college record was an impressive 153-8, with 91 of those victories coming by fall.
Professional Career
Ben Askren had a remarkable professional MMA career spanning multiple organizations. He made his professional debut in February 2009, winning his first fight via TKO. In 2010, Askren signed with Bellator MMA.
He won the Bellator Season 2 Welterweight Tournament and went on to capture the Bellator Welterweight Championship by defeating Lyman Good. Askren successfully defended his title 4 times before leaving the organization in 2013.
In December 2013, Askren signed with ONE Championship. He continued his winning streak, capturing the ONE Welterweight Championship in August 2014 by defeating Nobutatsu Suzuki.
Askren defended his title multiple times and remained undefeated in ONE Championship. His final fight for the organization was a victory over Shinya Aoki in November 2017.
Askren joined the UFC in 2018 as part of a trade deal. He made his UFC debut in March 2019, defeating Robbie Lawler via controversial technical submission. However, his UFC career was short-lived and challenging.
He suffered his first professional loss to Jorge Masvidal at UFC 239 in a record-setting 5-second knockout. His final professional fight was a loss to Demian Maia at UFC Fight Night 162 in October 2019.
Wife
Ben Askren is married to Amy Askren. Ben and Amy Askren have been married since 2010. They met during their college days at the University of Missouri.
Ben Askren’s Net Worth Details
Ben Askren’s net worth is estimated to be $5 million as of 2025. This figure reflects his earnings from his professional MMA career, wrestling accomplishments, and various endorsements.
Fight Purses
| Event | Opponent | Prize Money |
| ONE FC debut | Unknown | $100,000 ($50,000 show + $50,000 win bonus) |
| UFC 235 | Robbie Lawler | $210,000 (show) + PPV bonus |
| UFC 239 | Jorge Masvidal | $210,000 (show) + PPV bonus |
| UFC Fight Night 162 | Demian Maia | $200,000 (show) |
| Boxing match vs. Jake Paul | Jake Paul | $500,000 (minimum guarantee) |
Endorsements
Askren is sponsored by Discraft, a disc golf equipment manufacturer. When Askren signed with ONE Championship, he also secured a sponsorship deal with Evolve MMA.
Fight Records
| Stat | Record |
| Total Fights | 22 |
| Wins | 19 |
| Losses | 2 |
| No Contest | 1 |
| Win by KO/TKO | 6 |
| Win by Submission | 6 |
| Win by Decision | 7 |
Achievements
- Two-time NCAA Division I Wrestling Champion
- Two-time Dan Hodge Trophy winner
- 2008 US Olympic Team Member
- Bellator Welterweight Champion
- ONE Welterweight Champion
- Undefeated for over a decade in professional MMA
FAQs
1. Who is Ben Askren?
Ben Askren is a retired American mixed martial artist, Olympic wrestler, and former professional boxer. He was the Bellator and ONE Championship Welterweight Champion, remaining undefeated for over a decade in MMA. He also competed in the UFC and represented the U.S. in freestyle wrestling at the 2008 Olympics.
2. What are Ben Askren’s major wrestling achievements?
Ben Askren was a two-time NCAA Division I national champion and four-time finalist at the University of Missouri. He won the Dan Hodge Trophy twice (2006, 2007), awarded to the best collegiate wrestler, and compiled an impressive 153-8 record. He also competed in the 2008 Olympics and won multiple Pan-American wrestling titles.
3. What is Ben Askren’s MMA record?
Ben Askren retired with a professional MMA record of 19 wins, 2 losses, and 1 no-contest. He achieved notable success as the Bellator and ONE Welterweight Champion but went 1-2 during his UFC stint before retiring in 2019.
4. Why did Ben Askren retire from MMA?
Ben Askren retired from MMA in November 2019 due to ongoing hip issues that required a replacement surgery. His retirement followed back-to-back losses in the UFC, including a historic five-second knockout by Jorge Masvidal.
5. What is Ben Askren’s connection to Jake Paul?
In April 2021, Ben Askren fought YouTuber-turned-boxer Jake Paul in a high-profile boxing match. The fight ended with Askren losing via first-round TKO, marking his only professional boxing appearance.
6. What is Ben Askren’s wrestling style?
Ben Askren was known for his unorthodox “funky” wrestling style, which emphasized scrambling techniques and pinning ability. His unique body shape and creative approach allowed him to dominate opponents with moves that were difficult to counter.
7. What is Ben Askren’s fastest loss in MMA?
Ben Askren suffered the fastest knockout in UFC history when Jorge Masvidal defeated him with a flying knee just five seconds into their fight at UFC 239 on July 6, 2019.
8. What does Ben Askren do after retiring from combat sports?
After retiring, Ben Askren became a wrestling coach and co-founded the Askren Wrestling Academy (AWA) with his brother Max. He also hosts multiple podcasts related to wrestling and MMA and remains active in disc golf competitions.
9. Is Ben Askren involved in any other sports?
Yes, Ben Askren is an avid disc golfer and has competed at high levels in the sport. In 2009, he finished ninth at the Amateur World Championships and remains active in disc golf tournaments.
10. Is Ben Askren married?
Yes, Ben Askren has been married to Amy Askren since 2010. The couple has three children together—two sons and a daughter—and he often shares moments from his family life on social media platforms.
