“Obviously, everyone knows it is hard to hang it up, but I'm definitely going to try and do it the right way and not like how combat athletes have done and hold on too long for every last fleeting moment. I don't want to be one of those people.”

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.