Ben Askren's Post-Fight Career Is More Impressive Than His UFC Run

Ben Askren's UFC tenure was a letdown. Two wins, two losses, and a highlight-reel flying knee knockout courtesy of Jorge Masvidal that lasted five seconds. He retired in 2019 with a whimper, citing hip issues and a body that had absorbed decades of punishment. That version of Askren—the trash-talker who couldn't back it up at the sport's highest level—is what casual fans remember. They're missing the bigger picture.

What Askren has done since hanging up the gloves matters more than anything he accomplished in the cage. Start with the double lung transplant he underwent, a life-altering surgery that would sideline most athletes permanently. Instead of fading into quiet retirement, he returned to wrestling—his first love—and competed again. He lost that final match, but the result is irrelevant. The man had his chest cracked open, received new organs, and still stepped back onto a mat. That speaks to a level of mental toughness his critics conveniently ignore when replaying the Masvidal knockout on loop.

Then there's his ongoing presence in combat sports. Askren recently fought Belal Muhammad in a grappling match at RAF 11, losing by unanimous decision. He also used that platform to call out Colby Covington over comments made at the press conference, labeling Covington a terrible human being. Whether you agree with his assessment or not, Askren remains unafraid to speak his mind and stay relevant in a sport that has largely moved past him. He could collect podcast checks and coast on nostalgia. Instead, he keeps competing, keeps showing up, keeps proving he belongs in the conversation.

His UFC run was mediocre because he arrived too late, plain and simple. Askren was 34 when he debuted, with a surgically repaired hip and years of wear from Bellator and ONE Championship. Peak Askren—the undefeated Bellator and ONE welterweight champion who smothered opponents with relentless wrestling—never set foot in the octagon. Judging his entire legacy on five UFC fights is like evaluating Michael Jordan based solely on his Wizards stint.

Askren's post-retirement chapter is the story. Olympic wrestler. Double lung transplant survivor. Still stepping into competition. Still stirring the pot. That version of Ben Askren deserves more respect than the viral knockout victim ever will.