Ben Askren Talks Free Agency, Legacy in MMA
Ben Askren Talks Free Agency, Legacy in MMA
Ben Askren has made headlines around the MMA community from the moment he stepped off the wrestling mats and into the cage.
Chaos is a wild and wondrous thing, and it just so happens Ben Askren is a fan.
The highly decorated welterweight has made headlines around the MMA community from the moment he stepped off the wrestling mats and into the cage. The former Bellator MMA and current ONE Championship king has never been one to bite his tongue, and he has always fought for his personal value in the fight game.
The Wisconsin native was one of the first established names to truly test the free agency market, which is a move that has become all the rage in 2016. And while Askren's personal journey may have taken a few twists and turns, he's happy to see so many of his fellow fighters finally put their own best interests in mind.
"Eddie Alvarez went before me, and he had a very public and ugly court case that tied things up for a lengthy period," Askren said. "I was the next one after him, and I do think Eddie's situation negatively affected mine. After I found a home with ONE, I saw the writing on the wall: Free agency was going to increase because promotions like the UFC were significantly underpaying fighters."
Askren has never lacked confidence when the cage door closes, because skill, preparation and awareness allow him to stay one step ahead of the competition. As it would turn out, Askren feels the same way about the current wave of free agency and fighter disgruntlement, as he predicted this very scenario would unfold.
"I publicly predicted it on that sh***y show they are cancelling now with that stupid host," Askren said. "The guy on 'Inside MMA' sat there and argued with me trying to say what I said wasn't true and now it's all happening. I guess you can call me Nostradamus.
"I knew all of this would happen. Even a name as big as Georges St-Pierre is talking publicly about the troubles he's having getting a deal done with the UFC. Georges is saying he wants to fight, and Dana [White] is throwing him under the bus to the media. There are obviously issues with his contract and Reebok and his other sponsors."
Photo Credit: ONE Championship
Askren sees the recent change in fighter mentality in regard to promotion and payment as a huge plus for the future of the sport. He's a firm believer there should be multiple options for fighters to earn a living, and the more organizations there are in the upper level, the better a life fighters can make for themselves.
A two-time NCAA Division I national champion, Askren put his money where his mouth was by taking the best deal available offered by ONE Championship, and he sees many more established names making moves in the near future.
"It's not that ONE Championship and Bellator are raising their stakes, it's just that they are being able to pay their athletes more and more," Askren said. "I read somewhere Scott Coker said his athletes were paid 50 percent of the total revenue at Strikeforce, and he's implemented the same model at Bellator, and then it comes out the UFC only gives out 14 percent.
"The UFC is making more money, but Bellator pays out more than four times the revenue share with their fighters. That difference is going to attract a lot of big names and the more big names they sign, the better that promotion is going to be."
Particularly, Askren feels Bellator's latest moves will serve to push this narrative further into the public eye.
"I don't care what angle or spin you want to put on it," he said. "Chael Sonnen, Rory MacDonald and Benson Henderson are going to draw ratings. That's just the bottom line."
And while promotions like ONE and Bellator have certainly gained a larger share of the market as of late, Askren's happiest where his fellow fighters are concerned.
"The UFC has been doing a better job lately, but it's because they are being forced to," Askren said. "They aren't doing it because they think it's the right thing to do, which I think is a significant thing that needs to be pointed out.
"When I was on 'Inside MMA,' I talked about the UFC being a monopoly," Askren said. "Back in 2012, Bellator was still just getting rolling, the UFC had just purchased Strikeforce and WEC, and there was really nothing going on quite yet in Asia. So what I said was the UFC was essentially a monopoly, and it was. Whether they admit to it or not, there was no other place for fighters to go and earn a solid paycheck.
"Fast forward a couple of years and Bellator is growing bigger and ONE Championship in Asia is growing fast as well. There are more major players in the game that will pay fighters more and up their value, which is great for fighters. That's what I care about the most."
Photo Credit: One Championship
The ONE Championship welterweight titleholder still has several bouts remaining on his current contract but has signaled his career is drawing to a close in past interviews with FloCombat.
In the current day and age where money fights and huge promotional pushes lead to career-turning paydays, fighter decisiveness seems up for grabs -- and his is a sport where knowing when to say "when" has historically been an issue.
Askren is confident that will not be the case for him. The 32-year-old fighter is standing firm he will walk away precisely when he intends to, and he won't leave an ounce of regret in the balance.
"I have the date in my mind, and I know when I'm going to walk away from this sport," Askren said. "I know when the end is coming for me. I love reading athlete autobiographies, and no one ever retires when it's time. This is especially true in contact sports, and that's unfortunate because it doesn't turn out well very often. I'm never going to be that guy."
And if that day should come to pass and Askren retires from MMA without having ever stepped foot inside the UFC Octagon? He's OK with that as well.
"I know what my legacy will be, but I'm sure there will be doubt in everyone else's mind about how good I was because they didn't get to see me fight in the UFC," Askren said. "I think the other thing that is important to look at is how much the perception has changed when it comes to crossover with the UFC."
He pointed to the results -- not the public's perception -- as support for his argument.
"Five years ago people thought all the fighters in Strikeforce and Bellator were lesser competition because they weren't in the UFC. Look how that turned out," Askren said. "Eddie Alvarez came from Bellator and he's the UFC lightweight champion. Tyron Woodley is the welterweight champion and he's from Strikeforce. The guy he beat for the belt, Robbie Lawler, came from Strikeforce. Luke Rockhold, Daniel Cormier, Fabricio Werdum all came over from Strikeforce to win UFC gold.
"What we've found out is not only were they just as good, they were better. The perception the best are in the UFC is fake and I know that will factor into how I'm viewed my career is over. And I'm fine with it all. Guys who have trained with me, or competed against me, all the real fighters and journalists who've covered me know where I stand. They know what level I'm at.
"If I hadn't accomplished everything I set out to accomplish I may have a little chip on my shoulder, but I honestly don't."
Photo Credit: Ben Askren
With his career still rolling strong, Askren knows there are more battles to be won and steps of his legacy yet to build. He's as self-assured as you'll find in the fight game, and that's because he's put thought and conviction into every decision he's made.
Yet, even though Askren believes preparation and hard work to be the answer to most puzzles, the Milwaukee native is willing to give credence to the importance of rolling with the punches life throws at you. Circumstance and chance have created some of the best opportunities of his career, and even an analytical mind like Askren can't deny that.
"You never know where things are going to go, and you have to be prepared to make the most of your opportunities," Askren said. "If you would have asked me 10 years ago where I'd be today, I would have told you coaching wrestling at the University of Missouri. And I would have been happy doing that. Obviously life turned out a lot differently, and I'm still very happy doing what I'm doing.
"Life has so many twists and turns and you always have to be ready. You don't really know, although you think you do, but you really don't know what is going to happen. I still remember (I was on) Highway 101 in Phoenix, Arizona, and some guy texts me and asks if I want to make $100,000 for three fights.
"I kind of laughed to myself, because I had made $1,000 to fight before that. I say yes to the offer, and I'm signed to Bellator within a week. Just one text like that can change your life, and that's crazy. I'm super happy with where I am in my fighting career, where my wrestling business is at and my family life. I'm a happy guy."
The highly decorated welterweight has made headlines around the MMA community from the moment he stepped off the wrestling mats and into the cage. The former Bellator MMA and current ONE Championship king has never been one to bite his tongue, and he has always fought for his personal value in the fight game.
The Wisconsin native was one of the first established names to truly test the free agency market, which is a move that has become all the rage in 2016. And while Askren's personal journey may have taken a few twists and turns, he's happy to see so many of his fellow fighters finally put their own best interests in mind.
"Eddie Alvarez went before me, and he had a very public and ugly court case that tied things up for a lengthy period," Askren said. "I was the next one after him, and I do think Eddie's situation negatively affected mine. After I found a home with ONE, I saw the writing on the wall: Free agency was going to increase because promotions like the UFC were significantly underpaying fighters."
Askren has never lacked confidence when the cage door closes, because skill, preparation and awareness allow him to stay one step ahead of the competition. As it would turn out, Askren feels the same way about the current wave of free agency and fighter disgruntlement, as he predicted this very scenario would unfold.
"I publicly predicted it on that sh***y show they are cancelling now with that stupid host," Askren said. "The guy on 'Inside MMA' sat there and argued with me trying to say what I said wasn't true and now it's all happening. I guess you can call me Nostradamus.
"I knew all of this would happen. Even a name as big as Georges St-Pierre is talking publicly about the troubles he's having getting a deal done with the UFC. Georges is saying he wants to fight, and Dana [White] is throwing him under the bus to the media. There are obviously issues with his contract and Reebok and his other sponsors."
Photo Credit: ONE Championship
Askren sees the recent change in fighter mentality in regard to promotion and payment as a huge plus for the future of the sport. He's a firm believer there should be multiple options for fighters to earn a living, and the more organizations there are in the upper level, the better a life fighters can make for themselves.
A two-time NCAA Division I national champion, Askren put his money where his mouth was by taking the best deal available offered by ONE Championship, and he sees many more established names making moves in the near future.
"It's not that ONE Championship and Bellator are raising their stakes, it's just that they are being able to pay their athletes more and more," Askren said. "I read somewhere Scott Coker said his athletes were paid 50 percent of the total revenue at Strikeforce, and he's implemented the same model at Bellator, and then it comes out the UFC only gives out 14 percent.
"The UFC is making more money, but Bellator pays out more than four times the revenue share with their fighters. That difference is going to attract a lot of big names and the more big names they sign, the better that promotion is going to be."
Particularly, Askren feels Bellator's latest moves will serve to push this narrative further into the public eye.
"I don't care what angle or spin you want to put on it," he said. "Chael Sonnen, Rory MacDonald and Benson Henderson are going to draw ratings. That's just the bottom line."
And while promotions like ONE and Bellator have certainly gained a larger share of the market as of late, Askren's happiest where his fellow fighters are concerned.
"The UFC has been doing a better job lately, but it's because they are being forced to," Askren said. "They aren't doing it because they think it's the right thing to do, which I think is a significant thing that needs to be pointed out.
"When I was on 'Inside MMA,' I talked about the UFC being a monopoly," Askren said. "Back in 2012, Bellator was still just getting rolling, the UFC had just purchased Strikeforce and WEC, and there was really nothing going on quite yet in Asia. So what I said was the UFC was essentially a monopoly, and it was. Whether they admit to it or not, there was no other place for fighters to go and earn a solid paycheck.
"Fast forward a couple of years and Bellator is growing bigger and ONE Championship in Asia is growing fast as well. There are more major players in the game that will pay fighters more and up their value, which is great for fighters. That's what I care about the most."
Photo Credit: One Championship
The ONE Championship welterweight titleholder still has several bouts remaining on his current contract but has signaled his career is drawing to a close in past interviews with FloCombat.
In the current day and age where money fights and huge promotional pushes lead to career-turning paydays, fighter decisiveness seems up for grabs -- and his is a sport where knowing when to say "when" has historically been an issue.
Askren is confident that will not be the case for him. The 32-year-old fighter is standing firm he will walk away precisely when he intends to, and he won't leave an ounce of regret in the balance.
"I have the date in my mind, and I know when I'm going to walk away from this sport," Askren said. "I know when the end is coming for me. I love reading athlete autobiographies, and no one ever retires when it's time. This is especially true in contact sports, and that's unfortunate because it doesn't turn out well very often. I'm never going to be that guy."
And if that day should come to pass and Askren retires from MMA without having ever stepped foot inside the UFC Octagon? He's OK with that as well.
"I know what my legacy will be, but I'm sure there will be doubt in everyone else's mind about how good I was because they didn't get to see me fight in the UFC," Askren said. "I think the other thing that is important to look at is how much the perception has changed when it comes to crossover with the UFC."
He pointed to the results -- not the public's perception -- as support for his argument.
"Five years ago people thought all the fighters in Strikeforce and Bellator were lesser competition because they weren't in the UFC. Look how that turned out," Askren said. "Eddie Alvarez came from Bellator and he's the UFC lightweight champion. Tyron Woodley is the welterweight champion and he's from Strikeforce. The guy he beat for the belt, Robbie Lawler, came from Strikeforce. Luke Rockhold, Daniel Cormier, Fabricio Werdum all came over from Strikeforce to win UFC gold.
"What we've found out is not only were they just as good, they were better. The perception the best are in the UFC is fake and I know that will factor into how I'm viewed my career is over. And I'm fine with it all. Guys who have trained with me, or competed against me, all the real fighters and journalists who've covered me know where I stand. They know what level I'm at.
"If I hadn't accomplished everything I set out to accomplish I may have a little chip on my shoulder, but I honestly don't."
Photo Credit: Ben Askren
With his career still rolling strong, Askren knows there are more battles to be won and steps of his legacy yet to build. He's as self-assured as you'll find in the fight game, and that's because he's put thought and conviction into every decision he's made.
Yet, even though Askren believes preparation and hard work to be the answer to most puzzles, the Milwaukee native is willing to give credence to the importance of rolling with the punches life throws at you. Circumstance and chance have created some of the best opportunities of his career, and even an analytical mind like Askren can't deny that.
"You never know where things are going to go, and you have to be prepared to make the most of your opportunities," Askren said. "If you would have asked me 10 years ago where I'd be today, I would have told you coaching wrestling at the University of Missouri. And I would have been happy doing that. Obviously life turned out a lot differently, and I'm still very happy doing what I'm doing.
"Life has so many twists and turns and you always have to be ready. You don't really know, although you think you do, but you really don't know what is going to happen. I still remember (I was on) Highway 101 in Phoenix, Arizona, and some guy texts me and asks if I want to make $100,000 for three fights.
"I kind of laughed to myself, because I had made $1,000 to fight before that. I say yes to the offer, and I'm signed to Bellator within a week. Just one text like that can change your life, and that's crazy. I'm super happy with where I am in my fighting career, where my wrestling business is at and my family life. I'm a happy guy."