Ben Askren: Wrestling and MMA | Lex Fridman Podcast

Ben Askren is a wrestler and MMA fighter, former Bellator and ONE Championship welterweight champion, a two-time NCAA wrestling champion and four-time finalist. Please support this podcast by checking out our sponsors:
- Notion: notion.com/startups to get up to $1000 off team plan
- NI: www.ni.com/perspectives
- Onnit: lexfridman.com/onnit to get up to 10% off
- Eight Sleep: www.eightsleep.com/lex and use code LEX to get special savings
- NetSuite: netsuite.com/lex to get free product tour
EPISODE LINKS:
Ben's Twitter: / benaskren
Ben's Instagram: / benaskren
Ben's Website: www.benaskren.com/
Ben's Wrestling Academy: awawisconsin.com/
PODCAST INFO:
Podcast website: lexfridman.com/podcast
Apple Podcasts: apple.co/2lwqZIr
Spotify: spoti.fi/2nEwCF8
RSS: lexfridman.com/feed/podcast/
Full episodes playlist: • Lex Fridman Podcast
Clips playlist: • Lex Fridman Podcast Clips
OUTLINE:
0:00 - Introduction
1:06 - Woodley vs Jake Paul boxing match
4:56 - Askren vs Jake Paul boxing match
7:30 - Jordan Burroughs and Kyle Dake
18:44 - Askren vs Burroughs charity match
23:28 - Champion mentality and handling losses
37:47 - Future interest in competition
47:17 - Askren's early career
58:05 - Robots wrestling
1:12:46 - Olympics
1:18:53 - Dagestan wrestling
1:24:58 - Askren Wrestling Academy
1:40:39 - Khabib Nurmagomedov
1:47:16 - 2020 Olympics
1:48:56 - Wrestling dominance in MMA
SOCIAL:
- Twitter: / lexfridman
- LinkedIn: / lexfridman
- Facebook: / lexfridman
- Instagram: / lexfridman
- Medium: / lexfridman
- Reddit: / lexfridman
- Support on Patreon: / lexfridman

[@lexfridman]

Here are the timestamps. Please check out our sponsors to support this podcast. 0:00 - Introduction & sponsor mentions: - Notion: notion.com/startups to get up to $1000 off team plan - NI: www.ni.com/perspectives - Onnit: lexfridman.com/onnit to get up to 10% off - Eight Sleep: www.eightsleep.com/lex and use code LEX to get special savings - NetSuite: netsuite.com/lex to get free product tour 1:06 - Woodley vs Jake Paul boxing match 4:56 - Askren vs Jake Paul boxing match 7:30 - Jordan Burroughs and Kyle Dake 18:44 - Askren vs Burroughs charity match 23:28 - Champion mentality and handling losses 37:47 - Future interest in competition 47:17 - Askren's early career 58:05 - Robots wrestling 1:12:46 - Olympics 1:18:53 - Dagestan wrestling 1:24:58 - Askren Wrestling Academy 1:40:39 - Khabib Nurmagomedov 1:47:16 - 2020 Olympics 1:48:56 - Wrestling dominance in MMA

[@eriklarson9137]

​@@benjaminkell3726 "This channel has no videos".

[@TheBigLeeg]

Lex, I Really loved this interview. It was lovey and playful yet deep. Lex your reaching that “ crosshair “ between keeping it fun while bringing the interviewee out of their bubble and get them to be that person you’ve known for years. I imagine that’s a real dance that’s unique to each person. Last, I think I saw a real loving altruistic man in Ben when he discussed coaching motivations around the 48:00 minute. Thanks , Leon

[@cookingonestoryatatime]

I love and need more high level mma and grapplers on you podcast.

[@karlsteen2173]

🤘🤣🤣🤣🤣🤣🤣🤘🤘🤘🤘🤘🤣🤣🤣🤘🤘

[@karlsteen2173]

🤘🤘🤘🤘🏿🤣🤣🤘🏿🤘🏿🤣🤣🤘🏿🤣🤘🏿🤘🏿🤘🏿

[@zzzzzzzzzzz6]

Props for starting out with the questions most people want to get those out of the way

[@treyellis3]

Lex Fridman: 👽 Ben Askren: 🗿

[@N0Xa880iUL]

😹

[@sam_s_]

That is Charlie Olives, you rube.

[@kallepikku4991]

Askren is so fun to listen. The guy is both knowledgeable and entertaining, as well as a world class wrestler/MMA fighter. Sheer amount of details he's dropping in all aspects is just incredible.

[@eriklarson9137]

World class? That is like taking the best team from a feeder league and saying they would dominate any NBA team. Oof. Best was good OUTSIDE of the UFC. How did he do when he joined the big leagues?

[@koneking2569]

@@eriklarson9137 How isn't he world class ? He competed on an international stage in wrestling including the Olympics. He is one of the greatest college and folkstyle wrestlers of all time and in MMA he was ranked top 10 and beat some high level fighters like Aoki, Lima, Lawler and Koreshkov. The UFC isn't the be all to end all. How many former Strikeforce / Bellator fighters ended up becoming champ or top tier fighters ? Stop being a UFC shill.

[@skies580]

@@koneking2569 world class wrestler not MMA fighter. He was an elite MMA fighter but nowhere near world clas but also depends what you define world class as

[@claytonluke81]

@@koneking2569 Plus he came to the UFC at the end of his prime/career. Ben in his prime would have done very well against the top guys at 170.

[@ChristheCEO1]

@@eriklarson9137 lmao fuckin casual. He literally manhandled Dauglas Lima, how is that not world class?

[@anthonyp3113]

Thanks Lex, we really kneeded this.

[@twarken5078]

Oooh, now that’s a low blow.

[@eriqueitibus8163]

Never have I seen a comment so uncalled for and underrated at the same time

[@sweeterscience83]

Big Askren fan. This is perfect.

[@robertbordevik5072]

Wow 😂

[@jamestopliss7029]

Bravo

[@mattstakeontheancients7594]

Went to a Missouri Wrestling camp in Millidgeville, Georgia years ago when Ben was still in college. It was an awesome week, the college wrestlers acted as our coaches and team leaders.1st realization of how good college wrestlers are. Meeting coach Smith was awesome and became a fan of Missouri wrestling since then.

[@beastieking1]

@Valzac Entertainment that was a lighting in a bottle moment in retrospect Ben has accomplished much more then masvidal

[@xOneDudeArmy]

Bro brought up the knee in the intro. Legend

[@PronatorTendon]

Fabio Mabobabo

[@tonyh1345]

No way!! The crossover I never expected. Huge fans of you both.

[@Thomas_Paine]

Ben is such a good dude. His attitude about inspiring kids among other things is admirable. Great interview.

[@RamomarNY]

This man looks like a Greek statue from his profile.

[@jshaw4757]

@@Jay-407 Lol

[@conservat1vepatr1ot]

He’s got the wiener of one too lol. (That’s a joke, Ben’s definitely packing heat hahaha).

[@thevastboss4421]

💯

[@danielcastaneda4356]

@@user-hp1mz7md3x if he had like a Frank Zane physique he would literally be a greek statue

[@mikerabin5999]

Got to play a round of disc golf with askren and he’s such a humble nice guy… he was also in ballator when I meet him didn’t know his career was only starting

[@jackjonesdrums42]

Ben sounds like a solid guy, a passionate teacher, and someone that knows what it’s all about. Respect.

[@kallepikku4991]

1:18:50 Too bad Askren lost the previous match in 2008 Olympics and never got to wrestle Busaivar Saitiev. Both were incredible mat wrestlers, so it would've been a blast to see them going at it.

[@smoke1215]

I know things in the UFC didn't go great for Ben Askren as far as performances go, but I have grown to really like and respect the guy. He knows how to sell a fight, how to promote himself and how to take a loss. So many people would go into hiding, but not this man, he was online talking about it and owning it the very next day. Just because he lost a fist fight does not discredit him as a great wrestler, public speaker, content creator, interviewer, and entrepreneur. Seriously, if there were more people like him, their would be so much less crying and complaining in the world. People that have mastered something actually know how to take criticism and get better from defeat. He is good at it because he has been great at other things. I really appreciate what he has done for the sport and the overall community.

[@twarken5078]

Lex, your podcast is fast becoming my favorite of all. Your calm demeanor, well researched and interesting questions, guest diversity, and the fact that you allow your guests to speak freely whilst being a great conversationalist yourself, all add up to this fact for me. Thank you, and keep up the tremendous work.

[@spongebobsquarepants3990]

I agree. Lex is really becoming a great interviewer. To my knowledge, Lex had little, if any, experience in this particular vocation, but he is a quick study and I appreciate his love of technology and sports which is reflected in his very knowledgeable and entertaining choice of guests. My interests have long been tech and sports and I did not realize so many others enjoy the same. As you mentioned, Lex let's his guests talk without fuc_ing interrupting them every other word and many interviewers would do well to pick up on this skill, as some are just the drizzling sh_ts to watch they interrupt so much.

[@danielq888]

The thing he said about the desire of finding kids no ones believe in them and be the one who does... you have all my respect Ben Askren.

[@John-ru4gz]

This is the crossover that I absolutely needed.

[@tylerkelly9801]

U certainly did not need this. And I just got into lex’s videos, now that I see him let this idiot get another 15 mins of fame, out of principle, I can’t watch anything else he ever does.

[@mmatrainee]

It's fantastic!!!!

[@mmatrainee]

@@tylerkelly9801 geez, life must be terrible for you..

[@benkogan522]

You've ben askren for it, right?

[@laurajanecaporusso]

Same.

[@calebbrown1677]

Ben askren is truly a anomaly. Undefeated for 10 years, finally makes the move to the ufc after his prime then “beats” Robbie lawler In that fashion. Gets knocked out in one of the biggest kos in mma history then ends it all by getting sparked by Jake fuckin Paul.

[@sk8erKing678]

Also got choked out by Demian Maia

[@somdutroy]

You forgot, lost every second in the ground against a 42 yo Maia.

[@mixedmartialanarchist6469]

@@sk8erKing678 @Somdut Roy sure he did, after his prime. If ufc signed him after he left Bellator, Askren would have made a run.

[@eriklarson9137]

He went 0-3 in the UFC. It was Ben's choice to dodge the UFC. If he WANTED to be in the UFC during his prime he would have been. Period. He always knew where his skill level was at. :)

[@calebbrown1677]

@@eriklarson9137 in his prime he woulda been a top 15 guy

[@stendaalcartography3436]

lol the crossover I didn't know I needed, but boy Im excited to watch this. Thanks for making this a thing, Lex.

[@anonony9081]

People make fun of askren because of how unathletic he is but that's exactly what makes him amazing. He doesn't have the explosive muscles that some of these amazing wrestlers have he got through his career with grit and technical proficiency. I think he deserves way more respect for what he did with the dad bod

[@bigbobabc123]

He is athletic. He’s extremely strong for his size. He crushed a watermelon with his arms. He’s just not the same kind of athletic as Jordan Burrows etc

[@AJ-pc9gu]

I mean he created a whole new style of wrestling, 'funky'

[@NinjaofApathy]

@@AJ-pc9gu pretty sure he didn't create funk wrestling, but was definitely one of the best.

[@HkFinn83]

He’s a amazing athlete at his thing. He was an excellent scrambler and Pinner and his conditioning was good, which is probably the best athletic trait to have. Sports are not the same as bodybuilding.

[@anonony9081]

@@bigbobabc123 hrs strong. He's not explosive though which is the most common athletic trait in high level wrestlers

[@sydneysimon7112]

Such a great conversation, thank you for sharing!

[@TomTom-cx2tb]

This is one of Lex’s best jobs in doing an interview and drawing out a person’s responses.

[@lukecockburn1140]

Wow! Really excited for this one definitely never seen it coming Ben askren has a Amazin. Personality

[@kallepikku4991]

37:05 Actually when Askren signed up with One FC, Robbie Lawler was the UFC welterweight champion. And as a matter of fact, Askren did beat Lawler later when he signed up with UFC. So in a way he kinda proved that he would've been the world champion back in 2013, had Dana White signed him up with the UFC.

[@uncircumcisedcircus]

Thats some crazy MMA math. Ben is too small for welterweight in the UFC. Its also laughable that he would of beaten Khabib. Askren was probably the biggest dissapointing prospect in MMA since Sokoudjou or Gomi.

[@TstanDa-Man]

Lex you are my favorite podcast to listen to and just want to say thank you for the time and effort you put into creating great content.

[@n2cable]

What a good exposure to Ben...Mans got some serious talk and takes! Good on Him!!!

[@TheGiantGi]

It is much better when Lex engages in the conversation... gets much better flow

[@dr.doppeldecker3832]

He has such a unique profile^^ the thumbnail captures it perfectly:)

[@AJ-pc9gu]

especially surprising with how many punches he's taken

[@HolySchnikes]

That was a knee from Masvidal.

[@dr.doppeldecker3832]

@@AJ-pc9gu right, that pointy little nose looks so fragile^^ just proves how much of beast he was in the cage!

[@conservat1vepatr1ot]

I have such a tremendous degree of appreciation for Ben Askren. I’m excited to listen his conversation with another human I hold in extremely high regard. Thank you Lex.

[@TopShelfMontana]

one of the best Lex Fridman podcasts of all time

[@lurk7411]

Huge fan of Ben! Nobody brings up his incredible fight with Demian Maia, which was beautiful grappling in an MMA environment. I'll always be a fan of The Funky One👊

[@fuckbored4724]

They should have talked about that one. They were going over his losses, and I really wanted to hear his perspective on that one, which would have been much more interesting to talk about than the ole "I got kneed in the face" loss by masvidal.

[@dotsfrazer]

I like Ben he's a cool dude

[@hepticity]

I feel like Lex and Ben's conversation about drilling vs. controlled sparring is the exact approach to BJJ Priit Mikhelson advocates, and I think he would make an excellent podcast guest.

[@Patrick-sh9tt]

It almost sounds like Ben is advocating the equivalent of flow rolling and Lex has a karate approach to repitition of technique when it comes to drilling.

[@scotttoccs03]

@@Patrick-sh9tt sounded to me like ben was talking about positional sparring

[@Patrick-sh9tt]

@@scotttoccs03 yep true

[@marcoleone8189]

Lex, thank you so much for the wrestling content!!

[@MegaKootz]

Great interview Lex, and many thanks to Ben Askren.

[@adelkazi]

Great interview. Thank you 🙏

[@tonybowen455]

Just so good again. My fav thing was the Matt Matrione thing of compete at all costs. Truly a growth mindset.

[@jamesknapp64]

Cool to have someone I know on the Podcasts. Loved the Jordan Ellenberg as well, the other person I know thats been on the Podcast. Yeah I remember talking to Max about learning Russian when he was Redshirting at Mizzou

[@patmurphy8622]

Excited to listen to this one

[@KingDuppy]

Didn't expect this, but glad it came!

[@cheapshic]

lex couldnt be more on on point about the meditative aspect of drilling, i especially notice this in golf. breaking down, slowing down and isolating creates a higher level of feel, flow and synchronisation

[@bandicoot3162]

Amazing podcast thank you

[@paradisecityX0]

Make wrestling great again (we need a return of the Attitude Era more than ever now)!

[@lukecockburn1140]

The attitude era is overrated mostly by fans born after 1970 the terriotory days is what wrestling needs to be & I don't think it's possible Vince & other wrestling people blew it

[@paradisecityX0]

@@lukecockburn1140 Not at all. Coinciding with the golden age of Playstation, it was a glorious time

[@leeschmalz6365]

Best one yet Lex, really loved this one!

[@vercingetorixavernian8978]

Bens drilling arguments are SOLID he been coaching developing so many grapplers over his life

[@27dforce]

Great podcast! One of my favorite fighters!

[@anthonygerber8261]

Lex is becoming one of the best podcasters around!

[@mra2438]

I've yet to hear Ben talk about is final fight with Mia. I really would like to hear him reflect on the very different strategy he chose use.

[@fuckbored4724]

Same. That Maia fight was the most interesting in his MMA career

[@foundnotlost]

Ben's a genuine good guy, teachers young kids about becoming good people too.

[@aasimyousaf2455]

Great conversation. Really wish we'd got to see Usman vs Askren. Would have been a fascinating stylistic match up

[@joshuadelacruz6617]

Ben Askren. I always get a sense of authenticity from Ben. Could listen to him for quite a while i bet.

[@justins5756]

Such a good episode Ben is a great guy

[@lurk7411]

Great podcast as always Lex!

[@alanheavey6005]

Have we just met the first guy smarter than Lex? This was the conversation I never knew I wanted. Ben is even more fascinating than I thought, more likable too, n I liked him before. .

[@DNJ9o9o]

Yooo this is gonna be great.

[@jeremiahtalley1936]

Looking forward to this.

[@charliebrown8608]

I DIDN‘T KNEW THIS WAS A POSSIBILITY BUT WOW I LOVE IT!!

[@StheSharknl]

Awesome ep Lex!

[@hooligansway]

I like Ben he wasn't appreciated enough in the ufc

[@xinyster18]

He wasn't, but he made his money, that's all that counts. Good for him.

[@jaimechimie]

Cael Sanderson gave Ricky Lundell a wrestling scholarship to bring submission grappling techniques into the wrestling game. They had some videos of how they adapted x guard and other techniques into wrestling.

[@dpo2078]

Back in high school I attended a wrestling camp at UW-Madison that Ben was featured coach at. Ben was in the papers all the time between high school and college, dude was a legend locally and statewide for his patented "funky" style, and his brother Max is a savage on the mat, too. Crazy to have seen him reach such heights only to float down to obscurity.

[@ARISTOTL3333]

Hes lowkey intelligent

[@tech1238]

Amazing! Thanks for having Funky on

[@fuckbored4724]

Sad that he didn't talk about the Maia fight. That fight had some amazing grappling

[@TheSysifos]

Another one I'll watch in one go

[@luchador1764]

Love the Askren challenge idea.

[@truebryantcoaching]

Here’s a guy who gets the game of it All. Thanks Lex.

[@p0werl0ve]

great conversation

[@rcuzzy]

Does anyone know when this might have been recorded? Just curious

[@flyer8584]

Would be interesting to know what ben thinks about geathje’s wrestling after the chandler fight.

[@eriklarson9137]

Would be interesting if you watched videos before you comment. NO ONE is making you do that. Please stop. It will make the whole world a better place.

[@eriklarson9137]

Oh, and NO I won't time stamp it. That is literally the point. If you don't want to watch a video, why comment? That is something a 5 year old would do.

[@flyer8584]

@@eriklarson9137 dude tf you talkn about,I watched the vid and ben said that he wasn’t that good in the khabib fight,so obv this was recorded b4 the chandler fight which he showed that even a decorated wrestler like chandler who qualified for NCAA 4 times and was wrestling since h school cant take him down. Read b4 u fukn comment man,tc,

[@erikmorales17]

Ben Askren is so interesting, hey Lex if u could get someone who talks about soccer (football) and how to learn that I know u guys talk about drilling and I’m trying to bring that to my soccer trainings but I’m not to sure how to thanks

[@lukaskluczniok]

Thanks, Lex!

[@SJ-gk2km]

For intro I think the Hodge awards should be mentioned. And probably his incredible dominance with his college pin rate.

[@MikeC-pd2vq]

Great work!!!

[@Jonksss]

Ben's side profile is literally the "yes" meme.

[@alexanderfox-robinson4910]

This one was really good.

[@JungleScene]

1:56:15 "wrestlers are stubborn too!" "No way!" that was really funny

[@MrMrSaldana]

Ben !!!! What’s up man….Happy thanksgiving to you and yours..hope you had a good day..Go Pack Go !!!

[@kallepikku4991]

1:18:50 I wish Lex would've just directly asked if Askren thinks he could've beat Busaivar Saitiev in 2008 Olympics?

[@idontknow8898]

@38:00 - love this idea!

[@JTBCP]

Oooh can’t wait for this one

[@danerwinde7717]

I personally think that Lex unlike so many other popular podcasters podcast interviewer(s) host(whatever you wanna call him/them/they/therr/zim), is active in listening to his constructive critics not his haters but critics - big difference. He's less scripted and more free-flowing in his interviewing style(currently); which in my in-experience makes the interview/conversation much easier and more entertaining listening to..

[@Behel1t]

The guest we've all ben asrken for

[@charlesrocks]

I have a rule when it comes to fisticuffs. Don’t pick a fight with anyone that had cauliflower ear.

[@chickan10281]

Had it or has

[@HardL]

Or missing

[@Discgolfdpt]

Ben is great to listen to and so real. The fact that Lex doubts that Bens drilled several moves hundreds of thousands of times is interesting, I don’t think he fully understands the level of wrestling Bens progressed through.

[@lurk7411]

Lex! You've done it again!

[@bigpapavee]

The argument about drilling 1:36:ish is interesting. If im practicing guitar and play a groove over and over to where i can't play it much better, i always find you level up somehow if you keep playing it whether you're seemlessly adding licks or accents, bends here ir there, i believe these things develope with the muscle memory and sense of familiarity with the groove. To equate this to the argument of wrestling, i would tend to agree with Lex, with this example as my template. I know Lex plays guitar too, though. I realize its not the fairest comparison as my guitar is static and not really fighting me. Sometimes it seems it is tho,!!!🥴

[@johnhall87]

To offset the negative comments. I enjoy your martial arts podcasts.

[@mattwhite22]

Did they mention Lex interviewed John Smith? I looked and couldn't find anything. If not that would be an unbelievable interview. Give the people what they want!!!!

[@Patrick.Basedman]

That chin is a work of art.

[@daAwns3r]

Askren looks like Michaelangelo's David sculpture. Just a true competitor.

[@amatya.rakshasa]

I don’t think Ben would beat Khabib but it’s true that Ben would definitely have grappled with Khabib had they ever fought. Ben was the only one to actively engage Maia on the ground.

[@fuckbored4724]

I wish they talked about the Maia fight. It's weird how they completely skipped over that one while talking about his career, especially considering it was a grapplers wet dream match.

[@REXAZOR]

Khabib would win on the feet. But he would never wrestle askren down or keep him down lol

[@jamesr2936]

Was crypto really not covered in this podcast? Haven't listened yet but didn't see it mentioned in the timestamps.

[@arendsmith9527]

1:18:34 That is not a picture of Ivan Fundora. It’s Mijaín López.

[@Shilly]

I’m here for this

[@AllPainNoGain]

Lex can you please get more people on like Sean Kelly I rate that, I listen to it over and over feel like it helps me on my spiritual journey.

[@132453511]

When is the Naval podcast happening!

[@JakeAllen3]

Anyone know if it’s possible to get into wrestling for fun / little competing potentially at age of 21?

[@jimmynox8257]

You get the best out of people, Lex. Your guiding questions. Lead by questioning. Who else ever did that?

[@JoeFlanigan67]

Love ben askren. He is a great person. I've never seen him in a bad light.

[@SMT_2024]

lex you are an inspiration, thank you for sharing your thoutghs, experience, etc., you know that feeling when you've reached a peak of understanding and you no longer fit in to your own life, not in relation with your own conscious, but in relation with all around you? and you've bypass the feling of holding on... and you know there is something better for you and that gives you the feling of "hsappydness"? thank you, you've helped me in making a conscious choice who implies my happynes despite everybodys wishis for the contrary i loved the interview with andrew huberman, maybe you will challenge him at your next meeting in discussing about neuroplasticiti of the brain regarding human felings: 1.envy is a bigger problem of the one who has that feling, or of the ones towards wich is directed? it is a matter of chimie of the brain, a psichic issue as a result of social fobia...or what ? :))) 2.chemistry between two people, feeling of happynes it is all about feeding the brain with the exact amount of dopamine, strictly dopamine, and implies only the "reward" system Thank you for opening my eyes more widely