When Ben Askren came into the UFC earlier this year, he was undefeated with an 18-0 record. A former champion in two other promotions, he joined the UFC in hopes of proving he was the best welterweight in the world. However, two losses in three fights has led the 35-year-old to question if he will continue fighting.
Appearing on Ariel Helwani's MMA Show (ESPN), Askren was asked about the possibility of retirement, and he was pretty honest in his answer.
I mean retirement is definitely something I’m considering. I’d be lying to you if I said I was not. It is a time-cost analysis. I have a lot of things I want to do in my life. I’m a really busy guy. I have a lot of things I am passionate about and love. Not training specifically, but to and from setting stuff up, I spend 30 hours a week on MMA related stuff. Can I place my time better somewhere else is definitely a thought process that crosses my mind.
That being said, two more things if I may. All I wanted was an opportunity, that is all I ever said I wanted,” he added. “And, I got my opportunity, so it would be hard to be bitter or disgruntled in any way because I had the opportunity I wanted to and I have not been able to execute on that opportunity and that is on me. That is kind of one thought process.
The other thought process is, part of me wants to fight more. I thought I was doing really well in the Demian Maia fight… Part of me knows I can compete at this level. Demian Maia is a guy who has fought for a world title in multiple weight classes and only losses in the last five-plus years are to the three guys, Marty [Kamaru Usman], Colby [Covington] and Tyron [Woodley]. So, I guess that is something I need to sit and think about and what is next for me.
Askren won in his UFC debut back in March beating Robbie Lawler via submission in the first round, though some believe it was an early stoppage. In his next fight, against Jorge Masvidal, he was knocked out just five seconds into the first round, the fastest knockout in UFC history.
On Saturday at
UFC Fight Night 162, Askren suffered his second-straight loss and his first by submission. In a battle featuring two of the world's best grapplers, Demien Maia got the better of Ben Askren, submitting him in the third round. Askren didn't look bad in the fight; some believe he was actually winning the fight up until the submission, while others have taken the opportunity to label him a fraud.
Askren believes that after his loss to Masvidal, he still had a path to a title. However, that path got a little longer and harder now that he lost to Maia as well.
"The only thing I came back for was to try to prove I was the best in the world," he said.
"After the Masvidal fight, if I beat Demian Maia, I'm probably one good win away from a title fight. Now look at my path and I say, 'Oh, s---, I'm kind of far away.'"
Do you think it's time for Ben Askren to retire?