Ben Askren News

Chris Taylor - August 10, 2019

Jorge Masvidal squared off against Ben Askren on the main card of UFC 239 in what was considered to be the most highly anticipated bout of the evening. Masvidal entered the fight looking to build off the momentum of his sensational knockout victory over Darren Till at March’s UFC event in London.

Cole Shelton - August 6, 2019

Ben Askren will return to the Octagon later this year to take on Demian Maia. Askren was hoping to earn a title shot with a win in his latest fight at UFC 239. Unfortunately, for “Funky” a Jorge Masvidal flying knee ruined those plans. But, as a consolation prize, when he takes on Maia, Askren will be headlining his first UFC event.

Tom Taylor - August 6, 2019

Ben Askren is very disappointed that he was knocked out by Jorge Masvidal at UFC 239, but he’s managed to find a silver lining in this abrupt defeat. He believes he helped Masvidal become rich and popular in a way that he never would have been had they not fought. For that, he believes he’s owed a ‘thank you’ — although he doesn’t seem to expect to get one.

Cole Shelton - August 5, 2019

It has been a month since Ben Askren suffered his first professional loss to Jorge Masvidal. There, he was knocked out by a flying knee in just five seconds. Now, looking back on the loss, Askren still can’t believe it happened and is still upset as he says he ruined his life goal of being the best fighter ever.

Chris Taylor - August 3, 2019

Perennial UFC welterweight contenders Ben Askren and Demian Maia have verbally agreed to meet at October’s UFC Singapore event. The former Bellator and ONE champion, Askren (19-1 MMA), took to Twitter where he asked the Brazilian submission specialist if he was “in” for an October 26 showdown in Singapore.

Cole Shelton - July 30, 2019

Colby Covington and Ben Askren do not like each other to say the least. They trade shots at one another in interviews and “Chaos” believes “Funky” will be released if he loses his next fight. Ben Askren is coming off of a knockout loss to Jorge Masvidal at UFC 239 in five seconds. He is now rumored to fight Demain Maia after his medical suspension is up, which Covington believes is a fight “Funky” losses.

Christopher Taylor - July 26, 2019

Former UFC interim welterweight champion Colby Covington believes he and Ben Askren need to find some ‘new best friends’. Covington recently took to Twitter where he shared the following photo of Jorge Masvidal and Tyron Woodley.

Fernando Quiles Jr. - July 25, 2019

Dan Hardy believes a potential matchup between Ben Askren and Demian Maia is quite intriguing. Askren is coming off the first loss of his professional mixed martial arts career. He was knocked out in five seconds courtesy of Jorge Masvidal’s flying knee. This set a record for the fastest knockout in UFC history. Meanwhile, Maia is coming off a majority decision victory over Anthony Rocco Martin.

Mike Heck - July 18, 2019

Kevin Lee certainly doesn’t see a scenario where a matchup with Ben Askren would be all that competitive. Now that “The Motown Phenom” has had a taste of the welterweight division — and with plans to stay at 170-pounds — a fight between him and Askren is something that could be on the table. With both fighters coming off of a loss, the matchup certainly makes sense. Sprinkle in some back-and-forth at the UFC 236 seasonal press conference and you have a storyline to build off of.

Fernando Quiles Jr. - July 17, 2019

Tito Ortiz doesn’t appear to think too highly of Ben Askren. Askren entered the UFC with a ton of hype. Having won Bellator and ONE Championship gold and being a former Olympic wrestler, many thought “Funky” had a good shot at success on the biggest mixed martial arts stage. There’s still time for Askren to make his mark, but a devastating flying knee KO defeat to Jorge Masvidal has at least served as a bump in the road.

Natasha Hooper - July 16, 2019

Jorge Masvidal broke the UFC record for the fastest KO in history on July 6, snapping Ben Askren’s undefeated streak with a brutal flying knee. At UFC 239, “Gamebred” anticipated a takedown attempt from Askren and counteracted “Funky” with a flying knee. Askren was knocked out cold, and Masvidal was quick to bask in the glory of his swift victory. The fight ended officially at the five second mark of round 1. However, Masvidal believes if the referee had intervened sooner, the fight would have finished within 2 or 3 seconds.

Jordy McElroy - July 16, 2019

The shuttering quake from comatose welterweight star Ben Askren crashing to the canvas in record-breaking time at UFC 239 could be felt from Nevada to Singapore, where former UFC flyweight champion Demetrious Johnson was shipped off to in a historic trade less than a year ago. Not even the Richter scale is capable of measuring the size of those tremors, which opened up cracks in the reasoning Johnson was ever traded in the first place. That isn’t to suggest Ben Askren in the UFC hasn’t been entertaining. It has been a rollercoaster ride and cotton candy rolled into one. He talks the talk and walks the walk against the toughest guys in the UFC; guys that boast the kind of knockout power to alter careers with a single strike.

Chris Taylor - July 13, 2019

Jorge Masvidal needed only 5-seconds to hand Ben Askren the first professional loss of his mixed martial arts career at UFC 239 last weekend in Las Vegas. ‘Gamebred’ was able to connect with a flying knee just seconds into the opening frame, which sent ‘Funky’ crashing to the canvas in a state of unconsciousness.

Fernando Quiles Jr. - July 12, 2019

Chael Sonnen is impressed with the way Ben Askren has faced the music. Askren entered the UFC with substantial hype. He was part of the UFC’s trade with ONE Championship. In exchange for Demetrious Johnson, Askren was sent over to the most recognized mixed martial arts promotion. “Funky” had a successful, albeit controversial, debut against Robbie Lawler back in March. He submitted Lawler in the first round. In his second UFC bout, Askren was flattened in a record-setting five seconds via flying knee courtesy of Jorge Masvidal.

Mike Heck - July 11, 2019

Tyron Woodley had a lot to think about on Saturday night following Jorge Masvidal’s vicious knockout of Ben Askren at UFC 239. For starters, Askren is a teammate and close friend of the former UFC welterweight champion. In addition, Masvidal is a surging contender looking to cut ahead of Woodley in the 170-pound title conversation.

Cole Shelton - July 10, 2019

Jorge Masvidal is now a UFC record holder. At UFC 239, “Gamebred” took on Ben Askren. To start the fight, he ran across the cage and landed a perfectly placed flying knee that knocked his foe out cold. The official time of the knockout was five seconds, which is still the record. But, as Joe Rogan pointed on the broadcast, had the ref gotten in position faster, it could have very well been two or three seconds.

Thomas Taylor - July 9, 2019

Over the weekend, former ONE Championship welterweight king Ben Askren experienced his first professional loss, succumbing to a flying knee just five seconds into a UFC 239 bout with Jorge Masvidal. Speaking on Facebook on Tuesday, ONE Chairman and CEO Chatri Sityodtong shared his take on the former ONE Champ’s first taste of defeat.

Fernando Quiles Jr. - July 9, 2019

Chael Sonnen was concerned for Ben Askren after Jorge Masvidal finished him in just five seconds. Askren vs. Masvidal took place at UFC 239 in Las Vegas. It had been dubbed as the “people’s main event,” and it certainly delivered in terms of the highlight reel and record books. Masvidal sprinted at Askren immediately and landed a flying knee that put “Funky” to sleep. The five-second finish broke the UFC record for fastest knockout.