Ben Askren has held many titles during his athletic career.
He's a former NCAA national champion, All-American, U.S. Olympian, four-time defending Bellator MMA champion and a current titleholder for the Asia-based fight promotion ONE Championship.
He has been described as funky, unorthodox, boring, dominant, overrated, underrated and everything in between.
And as Askren (14-0) prepares for a rematch against Luis Santos (61-9-1) on Nov. 13 in Singapore, the Wisconsin native says there's a new word that might accurately describe him these days: old.
"I'm coming to a point in my career where within the next couple years, the question becomes, 'Can you hang it up at the right time?'" Askren told ESPN.com. "There's not a lot of people who have been able to do that, in any sport. [NFL running back] Barry Sanders is one that comes to mind, but most guys fight beyond their prime, and it's not always a good thing."
Askren, the No. 7 ranked welterweight in the world by ESPN.com, has already passed the point in his life he once thought he would retire by. During his athletic career, Askren wanted to be done with competition by age 30 and before he had his first child. He's now 31, with two kids.
The exact age of an athlete's peak varies among sports. Askren isn't sure what age that is for a professional fighter, but he believes it's a little later than in other sports -- and that, for now, has kept him in competition. He's constantly aware of his athletic clock, though.
Within two years, even if he's still undefeated, he could very well walk away.
"I think I'm a special case because I haven't been hurt at all, but physically I'm beyond my peak -- there's no doubt about that," Askren said. "MMA fans have a diluted view on the subject because people are using steroids and no one starts this sport at age 10, so people don't get good as fast. For those reasons, you have guys who have had these ridiculously prolonged careers.
"You don't see that in other sports. I was watching the NFL, and they said the running back who caught a touchdown for the Seahawks was in his early 30s and is the oldest running back in the league. You watch the wrestling world championships and there's two 19-year-old champions. No one is winning world titles in their 30s. It doesn't exist.
"Physically, am I the same person I was three or four years ago? No. But in MMA, no one starts early and the depth isn't great, so I can compete at a high level. When do I hit my peak, when my physical capabilities have gone down but my technical skills have gone up? Am I there right now? Have I already passed it? I don't know.
"When it comes to a point I think I'm not a top-five guy, I'll say enough. Whether I'm 18-0 or 22-2. Whenever it comes, it comes."
Unbeaten Askren contemplating when to walk away - Mixed Martial Arts Blog - ESPN
He's a former NCAA national champion, All-American, U.S. Olympian, four-time defending Bellator MMA champion and a current titleholder for the Asia-based fight promotion ONE Championship.
He has been described as funky, unorthodox, boring, dominant, overrated, underrated and everything in between.
And as Askren (14-0) prepares for a rematch against Luis Santos (61-9-1) on Nov. 13 in Singapore, the Wisconsin native says there's a new word that might accurately describe him these days: old.
"I'm coming to a point in my career where within the next couple years, the question becomes, 'Can you hang it up at the right time?'" Askren told ESPN.com. "There's not a lot of people who have been able to do that, in any sport. [NFL running back] Barry Sanders is one that comes to mind, but most guys fight beyond their prime, and it's not always a good thing."
Askren, the No. 7 ranked welterweight in the world by ESPN.com, has already passed the point in his life he once thought he would retire by. During his athletic career, Askren wanted to be done with competition by age 30 and before he had his first child. He's now 31, with two kids.
The exact age of an athlete's peak varies among sports. Askren isn't sure what age that is for a professional fighter, but he believes it's a little later than in other sports -- and that, for now, has kept him in competition. He's constantly aware of his athletic clock, though.
Within two years, even if he's still undefeated, he could very well walk away.
"I think I'm a special case because I haven't been hurt at all, but physically I'm beyond my peak -- there's no doubt about that," Askren said. "MMA fans have a diluted view on the subject because people are using steroids and no one starts this sport at age 10, so people don't get good as fast. For those reasons, you have guys who have had these ridiculously prolonged careers.
"You don't see that in other sports. I was watching the NFL, and they said the running back who caught a touchdown for the Seahawks was in his early 30s and is the oldest running back in the league. You watch the wrestling world championships and there's two 19-year-old champions. No one is winning world titles in their 30s. It doesn't exist.
"Physically, am I the same person I was three or four years ago? No. But in MMA, no one starts early and the depth isn't great, so I can compete at a high level. When do I hit my peak, when my physical capabilities have gone down but my technical skills have gone up? Am I there right now? Have I already passed it? I don't know.
"When it comes to a point I think I'm not a top-five guy, I'll say enough. Whether I'm 18-0 or 22-2. Whenever it comes, it comes."
Unbeaten Askren contemplating when to walk away - Mixed Martial Arts Blog - ESPN
