Prime Ben Askren Would Have Been UFC Champion

[ReadWrite]

Ben Askren at the top of his game

“He would be champion,” Duke Roufus, head coach of Roufusport, told MMA Fighting. “He’d be the triple champ. ONE, Bellator, and UFC. I believe that. Unfortunately, circumstances and timing don’t work out. I’ve seen him do some special stuff in the cage and in practice ever since I met Ben. It’s just sometimes timing doesn’t line up in this industry.”

One major factor in Askren’s retirement was his doctors telling him he required hip replacement surgery. According to Roufus, the injury had been evident for sometime and it affected the fighter’s training camps. Though Askren himself has insisted he is not blaming the hip issues for his losses, Roufus saw a difference between Askren’s recent performances compared to years past.

“It’s been bad for a while. Honestly, training camps this year were hindered due to his hip. He’s just such a tough kid, just fighting through things. Not to make excuses, but it’s definitely affected him a lot.

“The toughest thing is timing. I wish that Ben would have been given the opportunity when he should have, to enter the UFC when he was coming out of Bellator. Everything worked out the way it did. I blame Bjorn Rebney [for] the way he treated that situation that caused Ben to not matter to the UFC.

“That being said, I wish Ben would have come into the UFC at that time. I think we would have seen the real Ben. Guys like myself and Tyron Woodley have talked about the special Ben. At that time he was untouchable.

“His stats are wonderful. Two-time world champion. Impressive record. What I like about Ben is the person he is as a combat sports athlete. He grew to be a big, popular fighter, and still has his own voice and personality at the same time.

“He never backed down from anyone and that’s a really powerful statement. Ben doesn’t budge from what he believes in and what he feels. I respect that about him so much.”

https://www.mmafighting.com/2019/11...-have-been-ufc-champion-if-hed-joined-earlier

 

[Talkingtom]

6 months commentating and hel be back. Champ run 2020

 

[Max_P]

6 months commentating and hel be back. Champ run 2020

bro, he has no ass as of 2019... he is getting 50% mechanical man ass to walk

 

[Reign009]

He would have been better but not likely champion.

Too many well rounded fighters in the UFC. Plenty of WWs can already wrestle and are far ahead in the other aspects of MMA.

Prime Askren vs Prime Lawler would have been interesting though. Probably would have been Ben's best chance.

 

[MescalineDreams]

Thats gonna Be a no for me dog

 

[Reach4theSky]

<{cruzshake}>

Too one dimensional...

 

[13 others]

He was in his prime when he came to UFC and went 0-3. Just accept that for what it is. He's talented but not UFC caliber. No shame in losing to who he did but he was punching above his weight.

 

[FlyingDeathKick]

Then why in the fuck is he losing to dudes that are older and with more mileage and why didn't he sign with the UFC back in 2013?

 

[smiles mma]

Then why in the fuck is he losing to dudes that are older and with more mileage and why didn't he sign with the UFC back in 2013?

he tried, Dana fucked with him and he went at Dana

 

[VinceArch]

He'd be a fringe top 10 fighter. Maybe top 5 but that's some careful match making.

 

[Talkingtom]

bro, he has no ass as of 2019... he is getting 50% mechanical man ass to walk

His plan is to regenerate said ass then perfect the walk, then fight (well...wrestle)

 

[Paulsp]

No

completely shot, gun shy Lawler nearly killed him

old man Maia choked him unconscious

he would have stood 0 chance vs GSP

Ben would have never been champion

 

[Dusty Rhodes]

<{cruzshake}>

 

[Estudante]

lol prime demian maia would dominate him like he did vs fitch

 

[SKYNET]

“He would be champion,” Roufus told MMA Fighting. “He’d be the triple champ. ONE, Bellator, and UFC. I believe that. Unfortunately, circumstances and timing don’t work out. I’ve seen him do some special stuff in the cage and in practice ever since I met Ben. It’s just sometimes timing doesn’t line up in this industry.”

 

[waldywaldy]

Thing is, that time GSP was in his prime too, so......

50-45 Georges is the only answer

 

[puppybird]

BUT HE WASNT

 

[WHITE ANDERSON]

on the one hand, this is the same guy who trained CM punk and said he looked really good. the guy is fucking delusional.

ben came into the UFC at 32 or 33 years old with only 20 fights...how is that not prime??

he wasn't in any crazy striking wars, never took a bunch of damage, didn't have any serious injuries, etc.
ben got exposed by maia, his striking looked fucking awful and duke rufus is supposed to be some high level kickboxing coach, right? he failed


on the other hand, prime ben askren would absolutely destroy GSP 50-43

FUNKY GOAT BLESS

 

[kingghidrah]

He would have come close, maybe rank #3 at his peak. But he would have lost to GSP obviously.

 

[MigitAs]

Get off Ben’s nuts, TS.