B. Askrens & Bellator

[T.D.C.Dad]

http://www.bellator.com/

CHICAGO (December 9, 2009) — Bellator Fighting Championships announced Wednesday the signing of highly touted MMA prospect Ben Askren to an exclusive long-term agreement. Askren is a U.S. Olympian who competed in the 2008 Beijing Games in freestyle wrestling. While wrestling at the collegiate level at the University of Missouri, Askren won two NCAA Division I titles. Since announcing his plans to cross over into professional mixed martial arts after the conclusion of the Beijing Games, Askren has been one of the most sought-after free agents in the sport.

Hope this works out for Ben and Bellator.

[Louden]

Good for Ben. I hope they do not rush him in an attempt to establish their own validity. I would like to see Ben work his way to the top of the sport but he is still very young and has time. I hope they progress him knowing this.

[missouritkd]

Unfortunately (depending on how you look at it) it looks like he's going to immediately be in an 8 man tournament to face off against the current WW champ. That does mean he has a chance to have a couple tune up fights before it gets really serious, but a more recent press release on bellator shows Ben is not the only WW hot prospect that they've signed up for this tournament. In other words, he's going against high level competition right off the bat. I think that's good for him though as he needs big tests leading up to a potential championship fight...

[al harrington]

I haven't watched any of Ben's fights. Can his chin take a punch?

[missouritkd]

I haven't watched any of Ben's fights. Can his chin take a punch?

I haven't watched any of Ben's fights. Can his chin take a punch?

His stand up is behind his ground game, as can be expected. However, he's taken a few punches pretty well. All three pro fights have ended in less than 90 seconds.

His three fights:

Submission win (most recent fight):

http://www.purefight.org/videos/coverage/view_video/235490-max-fights-dm/199923-matt-delanoit-vs-ben-askren

Submission win

http://www.purefight.org/videos/coverage/view_video/234923-patriot-act-2/174177-ben-askren-vs-mitchell-harris

TKO win (This was his pro debut):

http://www.purefight.org/videos/coverage/view_video/234597-the-patriot-act-ben-askren-mma-debut/142877-askren-vs-flowers-edited


As you can see he hasn't given anyone much opportunity to punch him in the face, but he's been hit (Harris hit him with a pretty good looping right and a clinch upper cut). His reaction seems to be to immediately clinch/takedown after getting hit...but he is a wrestler after all.