Photo: MMAnytt / CC BY 3.0 (source: Wikimedia Commons)
My Take
Ben Askren is my favorite kind of athlete: a man who won ugly and never once apologized for it. While the sport chased highlight-reel knockouts, he dominated the welterweight divisions of Bellator and ONE with relentless, suffocating wrestling honed at the University of Missouri — a style critics mocked and opponents dreaded. What deepens my respect is his second act: author, sports commentator, and tireless advocate for amateur wrestling, giving back to the discipline that made him. He treats fighting as a craft and a community rather than a brand. In an era of manufactured personas, Askren's stubborn authenticity feels almost radical to me.
1. Profile
- Name (English)
- Ben Askren
- Name (Japanese)
- ベン・アスクレン
- Reading
- べん・あすくれん
- Born
- July 18, 1984 (age 42)
- Zodiac / Chinese zodiac
- Cancer / Rat
- Origin
- Cedar Rapids, Iowa, United States
- Height
- 180 cm
- Occupation
- author / amateur wrestler / mixed martial arts fighter / sports commentator
2. Background
- High school
- Arrowhead High School
- University
- University of Missouri
4. Personality
Motto
Private
6. Links
Frequently asked questions
When was Ben Askren born?
Born July 18, 1984 (age 42).
Where is Ben Askren from?
Ben Askren is from Cedar Rapids, Iowa, United States.
What does Ben Askren do?
Ben Askren works as author, amateur wrestler, mixed martial arts fighter, sports commentator.
How tall is Ben Askren?
Ben Askren is 180 cm.
Author — see all → · Amateur wrestler — see all → · More people from United States →
7. About this entry
Tags
- Last updated
- 2026-06-11
Facts are limited to publicly available information up to 2024; non-public or unconfirmed items are omitted. English text is machine-assisted (facts translated by Sonnet, "My Take" written by Opus 4.8). The Japanese page is the source of record.