LAS VEGAS – Ben Askren doesn’t suggest MMA as a profession.
Askren, a former ONE Championship and Bellator champion and UFC fighter, instructed MMA Junkie Radio that he often warns wrestlers he coaches to keep away from the cage as a result of there’s little cash to be made, even once you’re profitable within the sport.
“I often advocate towards MMA. It’s a sh*tty profession,” Askren mentioned. “I say out of the various 1000’s of individuals throughout America that wish to do MMA, man, if you happen to make it to the UFC, OK that is what I speak them via once they’re not that expert: Make it to the UFC, which that’s exhausting, proper? You’re going to should do a bunch of novice fights, then a bunch of low-level professional fights. Somebody goes to should see you, you’re going to should not get injured, all these good issues are going to should occur to you. So that you make it to the UFC, and also you’re on a baseline contract, and (if) you win all three fights your first yr, you’ll most likely make $80,000.
“OK, that’s all proper. However, maintain on, you didn’t pay your administration, you didn’t pay your coach, you didn’t pay your taxes. Sh*t, you’re sitting on $30,000 to $40,000. You’re on the poverty stage. And that’s if you happen to win all three fights and every part went very well. MMA just isn’t a fantastic profession. It actually isn’t.”
Askren, who just lately launched his memoir Funky: My Defiant Path By way of the Wild World of Fight Sports activities, mentioned there are some exceptions to his rule. He’s solely beneficial MMA twice.
“The 2 can be Corey Anderson (and Jordan Newman),” Askren mentioned. “So once I moved to (Roufusport MMA), I didn’t do any wrestling, as a result of there wasn’t anybody who was aggressive, after which I used to be like, ‘Hey, I have to wrestle at the very least in the future per week.’
“So I might go right down to (College of Wisconsin-Whitewater), which is like 40 minutes away, and Corey was a nationwide runner-up at heavyweight. I suppose he had just a little little bit of a boxing background, and I mentioned, ‘Hey, it is best to contemplate preventing. I believe you’d be actually good. You appear to have the mentality for it, you like to work exhausting.’
“After which the opposite one, he’s one in all my managers for AWA. His identify is Jordan Newman. He’s at present 4-0 in Bellator and fights on Nov. 18.”
