Coach: Ben Askren would have been UFC champion if he’d joined earlier

Discussion in 'Cageside - MMA Discussion' started by BirdWatcher, Nov 23, 2019.

  1. BirdWatcher

    BirdWatcher Canada's best is west of The Rockies
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    There will always be questions about just how good Ben Askren was in his prime, with some feeling he was a top-five welterweight for years and others wondering how his credentials stacked up to the UFC’s elite.

    It wasn’t until this past year that Askren had the opportunity to step into the Octagon after winning world titles in Bellator and ONE Championship and going undefeated in his first 19 pro bouts. While all three of his UFC appearances were memorable, the results did little to impress skeptics or those who were seeing Askren compete for the first time.

    Askren went 1-2 in 2019, with his one win being a controversial submission win over Robbie Lawler and one of his losses being a five-second knockout at the hands of Jorge Masvidal. Following a second straight loss to Demian Maia, Askren announced that he would be retiring from MMA competition at the age of 35.

    We’ll never know how Askren would have fared against the likes of Georges St-Pierre and Rory MacDonald, two elite welterweights who he’d expressed a desire to compete against on several occasions, but his coach Duke Roufus believes that if Askren had come to the UFC a few years earlier, the sky would have been the limit.

    Coach: Ben Askren would have been UFC champion if he’d joined earlier
     
    #1 BirdWatcher, Nov 23, 2019
  2. BirdWatcher

    BirdWatcher Canada's best is west of The Rockies
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    #2 BirdWatcher, Nov 23, 2019
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  3. WEWEREONABREAK

    WEWEREONABREAK First 100
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    Nope, never would have even reached the level that he did if the build up of his career had been in the UFC instead of the B leagues. Sorry to be harsh but he's retired so I'd like this nonsense to end now. I can put up with the ridiculous claim, from him, that he'd break GSP if he's active at least. But if he's not even fighting anymore then why?

    I'm sorry to Ben. What happened to him was humiliating and I genuinely wouldn't wish that on probably 99.99% of the planet. But let it stop now, please.
     
    #3 WEWEREONABREAK, Nov 23, 2019
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  4. jason73

    jason73 TMMAC 2020
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    and if my aunt had a dick she would be my uncle
     
    #4 jason73, Nov 23, 2019
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  5. HEATH VON DOOM

    HEATH VON DOOM Remember the 5th of November

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    Dana knew this and thats why he kept Ben out of the UFC for so long
     
    #5 HEATH VON DOOM, Nov 23, 2019
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  6. WEWEREONABREAK

    WEWEREONABREAK First 100
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    #6 WEWEREONABREAK, Nov 23, 2019
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  7. RaginCajun

    RaginCajun Undefeated in i don't know what

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    If you take away his losses, he is undefeated.
     
    #7 RaginCajun, Nov 23, 2019
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  8. Willthiswork

    Willthiswork I'd rather have 4 quarters than 100 pennies.

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    Sure... While he could have been fighting GSP, RORY, ROBBIE, PRE-USADA HENDRICKS, etc he was fighting killers like NOBUTATSU SUZUKI. It's clear that the competition was at the same level and he would have had the same level of success.
     
    #8 Willthiswork, Nov 23, 2019
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  9. Willthiswork

    Willthiswork I'd rather have 4 quarters than 100 pennies.

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    Honestly I don't think he would have ever been champion but would have been exactly like Maia where he's always borderline top 5 and will give almost everyone a fit. Only difference between the two in my eyes is that he would have been able to Chael Sonnen himself into more title fights than Maia ever could.
     
    #9 Willthiswork, Nov 23, 2019
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  10. Nemo?

    Nemo? Too weird to live, too rare to die.

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    Honestly there’s some truth to what Duke is saying but Askren would have needs to start pulsing lol there’s guys his size fighting at lightweight. I am curious how much of a cut he went through to make 170 besides loading off a bit of his love handles.
     
    #10 Nemo?, Nov 23, 2019
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  11. Shang Tsong2

    Shang Tsong2 ATM 3 CHAMPION OF THE WORLD
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    Your aunt does have a dick. And a moustache





    Unless your uncle tricked me
     
    #11 Shang Tsong2, Nov 24, 2019
  12. Tiiimmmaaayyy

    Tiiimmmaaayyy First 100 ish

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    pics of aunt?
     
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  13. jimmy boogaloo

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    pics of mentioned penile addition?
     
    #13 jimmy boogaloo, Nov 24, 2019
  14. Keung

    Keung Banned

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    Going to post a source or sit there with a thumb in your butt ?
     
    #14 Keung, Nov 24, 2019
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    homo fagit Sexually Active Member

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  16. ender852

    ender852 Well-Known Member

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    #16 ender852, Nov 24, 2019
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  17. Vagabond

    Vagabond from one thing, know ten thousand things

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    Earlier, later, now it doesn’t matter. It all would have been the same.

    these things apply only to folks who’s performances have a stark contrast between pre-usada or post usada
     
    #17 Vagabond, Nov 25, 2019
  18. Kneeblock

    Kneeblock Jumbo shrimp

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    By earlier does he mean around UFC 1-6?
     
    #18 Kneeblock, Nov 25, 2019
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  19. JonJonesBeard

    JonJonesBeard The Face That Runs the Place

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    Jesus. I haven't laughed that hard at an MMA post in a long time.
     
    #19 JonJonesBeard, Nov 26, 2019
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  20. BirdWatcher

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    #20 BirdWatcher, Nov 26, 2019
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