InterMat recently spoke with Ben Askren about his wrestling and MMA accomplishments and his current training.
Ben Askren (Photo/Bellator)Askren: They mean a lot because they are something I put a life's worth of work into and it was totally worth it.
You've volunteered as an assistant wrestling coach for the University of Missouri. Is coaching wrestling something you have aspirations of doing?
Askren: Yeah I thought for a long time I would be a DI college head coach, but with the new MMA career I don't really know where I am going to end up now. I would still love to coach, though.
What made you decide to transition into MMA? What was that transition like?
Askren: MMA was something I watched and enjoyed since the early days and I always wanted to try it. The transition has been very smooth and I am enjoying it immensely.
Can you talk a bit about how your wrestling career helped you transition into MMA?
Askren: Wrestling is a great base to have and the same hard work and dedication that it takes to be good in wrestling is the exact same thing it takes to be good at MMA.
What was it like transitioning to BJJ with a wrestling background? Which do you think is more important for your ground game?
Askren: I love BJJ and I think both are equally important for MMA. If you have one without the other you are very incomplete.
Compared to wrestling, what do you think of the talent level in MMA in your weight class?
Askren: I think the MMA talent is lower just because there are some many great wrestlers who have been doing it all their lives, while most mixed martial artists didn't start doing MMA until they are adults.
Tell me a bit about your training at American Top Team.
Askren: My first year of MMA was at ATTMO and my BJJ coach was Kiko France and he taught me so much about the sport.
Who are you training with now? Describe your relationship to him/them.
Askren: I am at the Lion's Den at Scottsdale, AZ, my two main coaches are Kiko (who moved from Missouri), and Mario Francis who helps with my boxing. I have a great relationship with both of these guys and they help me tremendously.
Can you tell me a bit more about their styles or training philosophy?
Askren: Coach O believes in a lot of movement and doesn't think MMA people keep their hands up enough, and don't move enough. Kiko is great for me because he has a strong top game and since that is where I am a lot, it really helps.
Ben Askren (Photo/Bellator)Askren: I am not scared to put myself in bad positions like a lot of wrestlers are, because I know that while this may be counterproductive in the short term, it will really help in the long term.
What does your current training situation look like? Do you train twice a day?
Askren: Usually twice a day, sometimes three with my new lifting program. I have been working a lot on stand up because it is the weakest part of my game and I need to improve it.
How come everyone always thought you trained at Arizona Combat Sports? I think I've even seen that reported.
Askren: I trained there three days. And I am not sure.
You've been quoted as saying, "I would be surprised if I get submitted with a triangle or an armbar, ever." Can you talk about your strategy (training-wise) that makes you so confident about that?
Askren: Well, I am very confident in those positions, even if someone gets it locked up I think I will escape without getting in too much trouble. Plus as of now none of the best guys at BJJ in my weight compete in MMA. The longer I do BJJ, the better I will get.
A lot of critics say you are arrogant and should show more humility. How would you respond to that?
Askren: Well, that is their opinion and I partially agree with them. To be an elite athlete you need to be part arrogant and part humble you just need to know when to let each of these personalities come out. As a competitor I feel I have a great grasp on this. If people who were close to me told me I was arrogant I would change, but I have never heard this.
What advice would you give a wrestler going into MMA?
Askren: Keep an open mind and work hard.
Do you agree that wrestling is the best MMA base to have?
Askren: I think even though you see so many wrestlers doing well, this is debatable. I think there are other factors that could lead to us being successful (sheer numbers and ability to adapt could be two other factors.)
You've written before on facebook that if a wrestler gets a takedown and doesn't punch the guy, he shouldn't have any advantage on the judges scorecard. Can you talk a little about that?
Ben Askren (Photo/Bellator)MMA is always considered to be more cut-throat and wrestling more close-knit. How would you compare the MMA scene to the wrestling scene?
Askren: Well I just think that the money that is in MMA draws more snaky people into because everyone is trying to make a buck and hustle somebody. The wrestling community is like a family, maybe a dysfunctional one, but a family nonetheless. A much more wholesome sport.
Are there any MMA fighters or wrestlers you admire?
Askren: I admire John Smith because of his skill, innovation and tenacity. At this point there are no fighters that I look up to.
What's your strategy for defeating Lyman Good?
Askren: Take him down and choke him.
You were unsuccessful in your attempts to medal at the '08 Summer Olympics. What was the experience like for you?
Askren: I am very bitter about it because I only had one goal in mind and I fell short, when you work so long for something and you come up short it is disheartening, especially because I feel like I executed my technique and strategy poorly and being flawless is something I pride myself on.
When you reflect back on your Olympic Team Trial experience, what emotions or thoughts come up for you?
Askren: It was an awesome feeling because it was a goal I had for so long. However, I didn't get to soak in it because my real goal was the gold medal and I knew I had to keep working for that.
Do you prefer competing in MMA to grappling and wrestling tournaments?
Askren: No, I enjoy all of it.
In your career you seem to always want to face the toughest competition. Would you ever want to fight for the UFC?
Askren: Yes.
Ben Askren (Photo/Bellator)Askren: I feel like I match up well with anyone in my weight class.
Can you say a bit more about that?
Askren: I feel like with my skill set, tenacity and endurance that I am not an easy fight for anybody to have and I can give everyone fits.
So you think if you had to fight GSP tomorrow, you'd be ready to go?
Askren: I will be more ready in a year, but if I had to be, why not, I love to compete.
Anyone you want to mention or any sponsors you want to thank?
Askren: Yeah, I would like to thank Cage Hero and Everlast.
Yael Grauer is a freelance writer living in Western Wisconsin. Her writing has been featured in Ultimate MMA magazine and the Performance Menu: Journal of Health and Athletic Excellence. She writes regularly for MMA HQ.
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