Ben Askren Retires From UFC, MMA, And “Everything”
It has been over a decade since Ben Askren made his professional MMA debut, but now that career has come to its conclusion.
The former One Championship and Bellator MMA Welterweight Champion announced his retirement today during an appearance on Ariel Helwani’s MMA Show.
“I’m retiring from the sport of MMA,” Askren said. “Frankly, I’m retiring from everything.”
A now retired Askren also revealed that he’ll need hip replacement surgery, but didn’t indicate when the procedure would be done.
Askren (19-2-0-1NC) ends his professional MMA career on a two fight losing streak, dropping bouts to the duo of Demian Maia and Jorge Masvidal. Askren became the Bellator Welterweight Champion at Bellator 33 in October of 2010, defeating Lyman Good by unanimous decision. Askren became the One Welterweight Champion at One Championship 19, defeating Nobutatsu Suzuki by first round TKO. Askren has picked up just a single victory in the UFC, which came over former UFC Welterweight Champion Robbie Lawler at UFC 235.
After a tenuous relationship with the UFC, a trade was made between the UFC and One Championship to send Demetrious Johnson to One and Askren to the UFC. Askren would go onto win one of three in the UFC, while Johnson would go onto win the One Flyweight World Grand Prix.
This is Askren’s second retirement from professional MMA competition, as he retired after a first round TKO win over Shinya Aoki at One Championship: Immortal Pursuit in November of 2017.
