Sherdog’s Top 10: MMA Wrestlers

Will Ben Askren ever compete in the UFC? | Photo: D. Mandel/Sherdog.com

6. Ben Askren

Askren’s wrestling credentials -- four-time NCAA All-American, two-time national champion and 2008 Olympian -- are beyond reproach and make him one of the greatest collegiate wrestlers of all-time. His seventh-place finish at the Olympics hardly diminishes an incredible career on the mats, especially at a weight that contained all-time great Buvaisar Saitiev.

Much of the attention on Askren’s unique wrestling repertoire revolves around his distinctive “funky” style, which is also practiced to some extent by other MMA wrestlers like Aljamain Sterling. What does “funk” entail? In the strictest sense, it refers to a set of shot counters that involve rolling with the opponent’s pressure and turning that into a positional advancement rather than meeting the shot head-on, as well as a willingness to expose the back. In a broader sense, it speaks to Askren’s ability to consistently put himself in situations that allow him to out-wrestle his opponents, particularly on the mat.

That has shown up quite clearly in Askren’s MMA career. Aside from Askren’s fights with Jay Hieron and Luis Santos, he has out-wrestled, out-grappled and worn down every opponent he has faced. His pressure and ability to scramble is unmatched and unrelenting, and while his style is different from that of most of his colleagues on this list, it is no less effective. Would that remain true against elite MMA wrestlers like Johny Hendricks or Robbie Lawler? We can only hope that we will find out.

Continue Reading: Number 5 » Although he has no formal wrestling background, he is without question the finest defensive wrestler in MMA history. He has effortlessly shucked off shots from some of the best takedown artists in the sport.