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His striking ability, his potential as a high level fighter, etc.
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what do Roufus and Pettis say about Askren?
- Thread starter RepairManManMan
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Duke sums up his thoughts with a simple warning:
“Be Careful What You Wish For....”
And here are some additional comments:
“Ben’s been getting better at striking, and here’s the one thing…I can tell you how to not get struck by someone, Ben’s defense is excellent,” said Roufus. “He’s got (Erik) Koch, (Alan) Belcher, (Pascal) Krauss, the Pettis boys swinging at him constantly. He’s good at not getting hit.”
“Couple that with his wrestling, it’s a wrap man,” Roufus furthered about Askren, who has defeated established vets like Douglas Lima, Jay Hieron, Dan Hornbuckle, Lyman Good and Nick Thompson under the Bellator banner. “A lot of people focus on offense, but I focus on defense with Ben. That’s the only way he’ll lose a fight is getting hit. I know that. No one will beat him on the ground.”
http://fcfighter.com/post/duke-rouf...-of-ben-askren-“be-careful-what-you-wish-for”
Keep in mind this article is a year and a half old already, and Funk has been getting better and better since.
“Be Careful What You Wish For....”
And here are some additional comments:
“Ben’s been getting better at striking, and here’s the one thing…I can tell you how to not get struck by someone, Ben’s defense is excellent,” said Roufus. “He’s got (Erik) Koch, (Alan) Belcher, (Pascal) Krauss, the Pettis boys swinging at him constantly. He’s good at not getting hit.”
“Couple that with his wrestling, it’s a wrap man,” Roufus furthered about Askren, who has defeated established vets like Douglas Lima, Jay Hieron, Dan Hornbuckle, Lyman Good and Nick Thompson under the Bellator banner. “A lot of people focus on offense, but I focus on defense with Ben. That’s the only way he’ll lose a fight is getting hit. I know that. No one will beat him on the ground.”
http://fcfighter.com/post/duke-rouf...-of-ben-askren-“be-careful-what-you-wish-for”
Keep in mind this article is a year and a half old already, and Funk has been getting better and better since.
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Anthony Pettis comments on Ben Askren:
"He Doesn't Get the Credit he Deserves."
https://www.facebook.com/FightParrot/posts/562609723776150
"One guy who is on the main stage, ready, is Ben Askren," said Pettis. "He's stuck between Bellator and the UFC, thinking about retiring. He's one of the best guys I've ever trained with...I don't want to see him get lost between organizations."
http://www.mixedmartialarts.com/new...hinking-about-retiring-Askren-Want-GSP-first/
"Anthony said something along these lines "I would not sign a contract to fight this guy. If he came down to 155 I would absolutely drop to 145. I am not just saying this because we are teammates - I really would not want to fight Ben Askren. When we spar, after the first round my energy is gone from trying to defend takedowns, or get on top of him. He is an amazing fighter" or something similar."
(paraphrased, but source of quoted cited)
http://www.fightsforum.com/forum/showthread.php/2076-Bellator-360-Pettis-Speaks-About-Ben-Askren
It's also important to note that Pettis chose Askren to be one of his coaches for TUF, despite the obvious issues between Dana White and Funky.
If Askren wasn't such an asset, I doubt Pettis would want to rock the boat by bringing in someone he knows does not get along with his boss.
"He Doesn't Get the Credit he Deserves."
https://www.facebook.com/FightParrot/posts/562609723776150
"One guy who is on the main stage, ready, is Ben Askren," said Pettis. "He's stuck between Bellator and the UFC, thinking about retiring. He's one of the best guys I've ever trained with...I don't want to see him get lost between organizations."
http://www.mixedmartialarts.com/new...hinking-about-retiring-Askren-Want-GSP-first/
"Anthony said something along these lines "I would not sign a contract to fight this guy. If he came down to 155 I would absolutely drop to 145. I am not just saying this because we are teammates - I really would not want to fight Ben Askren. When we spar, after the first round my energy is gone from trying to defend takedowns, or get on top of him. He is an amazing fighter" or something similar."
(paraphrased, but source of quoted cited)
http://www.fightsforum.com/forum/showthread.php/2076-Bellator-360-Pettis-Speaks-About-Ben-Askren
It's also important to note that Pettis chose Askren to be one of his coaches for TUF, despite the obvious issues between Dana White and Funky.
If Askren wasn't such an asset, I doubt Pettis would want to rock the boat by bringing in someone he knows does not get along with his boss.
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Yeah didnt Brown say something similar?
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Yup. Brown trained with him before the Lawler fight and had nothing but praise for the Funkasaurus.
http://www.bloodyelbow.com/2014/6/1...stling-with-ben-askren-ahead-of-ufc-on-fox-12
It seems there's a very clear pattern of top level fighters and trainers all acknowledging the greatness that is Mr. Askren despite some detractors claiming he's just "some dude with a big fucking afro".
http://www.bloodyelbow.com/2014/6/1...stling-with-ben-askren-ahead-of-ufc-on-fox-12
It seems there's a very clear pattern of top level fighters and trainers all acknowledging the greatness that is Mr. Askren despite some detractors claiming he's just "some dude with a big fucking afro".
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But...but...but...he hasn't fought in the UFC!!!!!!!!
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Exquisite quotable begins @2:15
[YT]rrDeJAxwVyY[/YT]
[YT]rrDeJAxwVyY[/YT]
right? LOL at that. He's still training with UFC fighters.
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Yeah, as if his trainers and training partners are going to say "Ben's striking is still pretty basic. He needs more work before he takes on a Lawler, Hendricks or Lombard."
It's just like the Pro's Picks. Training partners and trainers are always and understandably very biased. Ask someone who's trained with him but isn't a close friend if you want objectivity. Of course, this thread is all about confirmation bias, not objectivity...
It's just like the Pro's Picks. Training partners and trainers are always and understandably very biased. Ask someone who's trained with him but isn't a close friend if you want objectivity. Of course, this thread is all about confirmation bias, not objectivity...
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I don't think anyone really questions that Askren is solid and maybe has the ability to beat the best that WW has to offer. But you can't sit here and call out every top fighter in the world when the reality is you haven't beat really anyone of substance that would allow you to make many of the statements he makes. Plus he calls out someone almost weekly in an org he doesn't even fight in. Just kind of gets sad after awhile.
JonSnitchPhones
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They did ask someone who has trained with him, but isn't a close friend, in Matt Brown. And this is what he said.....
Obviously that's just a compliment to his wrestling and overall game as a mixed martial artist, nothing about his striking which I assume is suspect from watching the lack of snap he gets in training footage, but still if he could hang with the upper echelon of the UFC I think that's the main idea.
JonSnitchPhones
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Really, he hasn't faced anyone of substance? I'd like to see you say that to Douglas Lima, or even Koreshkov, that they aren't of substance. I don't have much doubt that Lima would at least be top 5 in UFC. Technical striker with maybe the most power in the division, comes from a grappling background, and had no problems with the wrestling of Carl and Baker surrounding Askren.
And really what other choice does he have to talk when he tried to compete in the UFC, but got denied, which implied they saw him as a big threat to swim all over the division.
You're incredibly off base on this matter.
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I never asked anything in the OP to confirm any bias I have. PITFIGHTER supplied me with quotes from Roufus and Askren in reference to his striking ability/potential. Never did I say in the OP "make sure it's good news". It just so happened to positive comments (no suprise) but I'm looking at the finer details here and not just "O HE GOOD" or "NO HE BAD" confirmation.
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But you're asking for quotes from his coach and training partner. Sure, they give constructive criticism in the gym, but they're only going to praise him in public. Again, look what training partners say for Pros Picks.
This argument is really old...who is he suppose to fight at this point? He already cleared out bellator. How is he suppose to "beat anyone of substance" (which I think is a bs claim when you actually look at who he has beat), if all of the top level fighters are in the UFC? How exactly do you suggest he go about fighting these substantive fighters?
He's earned a shot in the UFC...we know it and Dana knows it...but Dana is playing his normal school-girl bs instead of really looking for the "best fighters in the world".
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