Ben Askren
An Olympic wrestler whose unorthodox, grinding style made him a dominant champion in MMA before a brief, infamous UFC stint.
Born 1984 (age 42)·American wrestler and mixed martial artist·Birthday: July 18·Millennials
Biography
Ben Askren's story in combat sports is one of sheer, unapologetic efficacy over aesthetics. A two-time NCAA wrestling champion and 2008 Olympian, he brought a folkstyle wrestling base into mixed martial arts that was both mundane and suffocating. His style, dubbed 'Funky', was built on relentless pressure, takedowns, and top control that drained the will from opponents. He dominated Bellator and ONE Championship, reigning as welterweight king for years without a loss. His move to the UFC was one of the most hyped arrivals in the sport's history, setting up a showdown with the charismatic Jorge Masvidal. That fight ended in a record-setting five-second knockout, a brutal and viral moment that unfairly overshadowed a career defined by consistent dominance. Askren retired with a unique legacy: a fighter whose technical prowess was undeniable, yet whose public narrative is forever tied to its spectacular, sudden end.
Millennials
1981–1996
The first digital natives. Grew up with the internet, came of age during 9/11 and the 2008 crash. Highly educated, deeply indebted, slower to marry and buy houses. Redefined work, identity, and what it means to be an adult.
Ben was born in 1984, placing them squarely in the Millennials. The events that shaped this generation — the internet revolution, 9/11, and the 2008 financial crisis — shaped the world they entered and the choices available to them.
#1 When Ben Was Born
The biggest hits of 1984
#1 Movie
Beverly Hills Cop
Best Picture
Amadeus
#1 TV Show
Dallas
Ben's Life & Times
The world at every milestone
1984Born
Apple Macintosh introduced
Gas: $1.13/galHome: $59,800Min wage: $3.35/hrPresident: Ronald Reagan"When Doves Cry" — PrinceBest Picture: Amadeus
1989Started school
Berlin Wall falls; Tiananmen Square protests
Gas: $1.00/galHome: $79,100Min wage: $3.35/hrPresident: George H.W. Bush"Look Away" — ChicagoBest Picture: Driving Miss Daisy
1997Became a teenager
Princess Diana dies in Paris car crash; Harry Potter published
Gas: $1.23/galHome: $104,100Min wage: $5.15/hrPresident: Bill Clinton"Candle in the Wind 1997" — Elton JohnBest Picture: Titanic
2000Could drive
Y2K passes without incident; contested Bush-Gore election
Gas: $1.51/galHome: $119,600Min wage: $5.15/hrPresident: Bill Clinton"Breathe" — Faith HillBest Picture: Gladiator
2002Could vote
Euro currency enters circulation
Gas: $1.36/galHome: $137,800Min wage: $5.15/hrPresident: George W. Bush"How You Remind Me" — NickelbackBest Picture: Chicago
2005Turned 21
Hurricane Katrina devastates New Orleans; YouTube launches
Gas: $2.30/galHome: $167,500Min wage: $5.15/hrPresident: George W. Bush"We Belong Together" — Mariah CareyBest Picture: Crash
2014Turned 30
Russia annexes Crimea; Ebola outbreak in West Africa
Gas: $3.37/galHome: $160,700Min wage: $7.25/hrPresident: Barack Obama"Happy" — Pharrell WilliamsBest Picture: Birdman
2024Turned 40
AI reshapes industries; Paris Olympics
Gas: $3.31/galHome: $372,000Min wage: $7.25/hrPresident: Joe Biden"Espresso" — Sabrina CarpenterBest Picture: Anora
2026Age 42 today
Gas: $3.91/galPresident: Donald Trump
Key Achievements
- Remained undefeated for over a decade in MMA, compiling a 19-0 record before his first professional loss.
- Was the longest-reigning welterweight champion in both Bellator MMA and ONE Championship history.
- Won two NCAA Division I wrestling championships for the University of Missouri and competed in the 2008 Beijing Olympics.
Did You Know?
He famously engaged in a long-running, social media-fueled feud with UFC commentator and fighter Daniel Cormier.
After retirement, he briefly pursued professional boxing, losing a high-profile exhibition match to YouTube personality Jake Paul.
He co-founded the Askren Wrestling Academy, focusing on youth wrestling development in Wisconsin.
“I'm not the best striker, I'm not the best jiu-jitsu guy, but I'm the best at making people do what they don't want to do.”
