Why Ben Askren Deserves Your Respect

Askren made his highly anticipated promotional debut at UFC 235 back in March against Robbie Lawler. As I’m sure many of you remember, the fight was called off by Herb Dean in an extremely controversial manner. Needless to say, it caused a division among the MMA community, and the fans demanded a rematch as well as UFC president Dana White. Despite the demands, Askren stated clearly that he does not want to face Lawler again.

This win against Lawler eventually set Askren up to fight Jorge Masvidal at UFC 239. ‘Gamebred’ was coming off the most impressive win of his career at this juncture, where he knocked Darren Till out cold in his hometown just two weeks after Askren’s UFC debut. Askren and Masvidal clearly did not like each other from the get-go. Name calling, threatening, you name it. They did it to each other leading up to this fight. Masvidal was even quoted saying that he wanted end Askren’s bloodline.

As entertaining as the lead-up to the fight was, the fight did not last long enough to be the same. The fight was over in just 5 seconds, as Masvidal became the new owner of the fastest knockout in UFC history, and Askren’s undefeated record was shattered. Shortly after the fight was over, many fans started to wonder how Askren was going to return, and against who, and also how he was going to take this loss.

Taking a loss in MMA is never easy, or any sport for that matter. But there is something special about the aftermath when a major figure in MMA takes a loss, especially undefeated ones. Not only is there premonition on how they will deal with the loss, but also how they will look when they come back.

Every fighter takes a loss differently. We saw two very similar figures on the same card deal with their losses completely different at UFC 207, where Dominick Cruz and Ronda Rousey both lost their bouts. Rousey went into a state of reticence, avoiding the media for an extended period of time. Cruz, on the other hand, was extremely calm and unruffled by the loss, admitting that Cody Garbrandt was better than him that night ‘by a couple of inches’. It was one of the most admirable moments to watch Cruz take questions from the media after that fight, answering each and every one of them with dignity and pride.

Askren took his first loss in MMA as impressively as anyone. Monday after the weekend of UFC 239, Askren was on Ariel Helwani’s MMA Show, discussing the loss as if nothing happened a couple of nights back. It was not only impressive, but respectable to see Askren facing the music after one of the most devastating KO losses we have ever seen.

Upon facing the media and being as honest as possible about the night that went wrong, Askren was quickly scheduled for another fight. This time, it was against one of the most decorated grapplers of all time in Demian Maia, in Singapore. The match up itself was a fascinating one: One of the best wrestlers in MMA vs. one of the best BJJ practitioner in MMA. It was a classic match up and one that fans always talk about when comparing styles.

Askren was once again very confident in himself leading up to the fight. He believed that he could finish Maia. However, the fight did not go according to plan once again for Askren, as he was ultimately submitted in the third round after two rounds of great grappling action. Maia became the first person to submit Askren, and another disappointing result has many fans assuming the end of Askren’s UFC career.

While Askren was not able to get back on the winning track this weekend, he once again dealt with the loss in the most respectable manner; facing the media immediately. Askren admitted in the post-fight interview that he ‘became overconfident in the third round’. There were no excuses or appeal for sympathy.

Many people do not understand how difficult it is to lose a fight in front of the whole world, and then come out and say that the other person was better. It is what makes the actions of fighters like Cruz, Whittaker, Cormier, and Askren even more laudable.

You may not like Ben Askren. You may even hate Ben Askren. But the fact remains, Askren is one of the most respectable guys in this sport, doing things that very few people are willing and able to do.