“In wrestling, if you want to be the best wrestler, you show up at the U.S. Nationals. If you win that, you go to World Team Trials. You make the World Team, you go to the World Championships, and we all know who the best is at the end of the year.”

American former professional mixed martial artist, Olympic wrestler and boxer

Ben Askren is an American former professional mixed martial artist, Olympic wrestler, and boxer. He competed in the welterweight divisions of Bellator Fighting Championships, ONE FC, and the UFC, and is known for a career that stretched across elite wrestling and mixed martial arts. Askren was the longest reigning Bellator Welterweight Champion and the longest reigning ONE Welterweight World Champion. In the UFC, he reached the No. 5 spot in the welterweight rankings. His public profile is closely tied to combat sports, especially wrestling and welterweight competition.