Ben Askren has described his return to wrestling as a 'second act' at life. The former UFC welterweight contender and decorated amateur wrestler is embracing the competitive return on a personal level.
Ben Askren is framing his return to wrestling as something deeper than a competitive comeback, describing it publicly as a "second act" at life as he embraces the sport that first made his name.
Askren, 41, compiled one of the most decorated amateur wrestling careers in American history before transitioning to MMA, where he went 19-2-0 as a professional. Known by the nickname "Funky," the orthodox fighter out of Roufusport built his cage career almost entirely around wrestling, averaging 4.33 takedowns per 15 minutes during his time competing at welterweight. His striking numbers were respectable as well, landing significant shots at a rate of 3.64 per minute on a 49 percent accuracy clip. Despite the losses that closed his UFC chapter, his grappling identity remained the defining thread of everything he accomplished inside the cage.
Now the five-foot-eleven, 180-centimeter Midwesterner is stepping back onto the wrestling mat, and by his own account the motivation runs well beyond trophies or rankings. His characterization of the return as a personal "second act" suggests the move is tied to something he still feels the sport can give him at this stage of his life.
Why it matters
- Askren's return puts a recognizable MMA name back in the wrestling conversation, potentially bridging both fan bases.
- At 41, he brings elite technical credentials and a platform that could raise the profile of competitive wrestling events.
- His framing of the comeback as personally meaningful rather than purely athletic adds a human-interest dimension beyond sport.
