On Saturday Bellator FC signee Ben Askren won the 74 kg division in freestyle wrestling at the Dave Schultz Memorial. The 2008 Olympian won five bouts and scored three pin falls en route to the championship.
In the finals Askren was trailing 2009 U.S. World Team member Trent Paulson in the best of three periods match. During a scramble Askren locked in a modified Kimura and used it to score the fall. The creative wrestler is clearly getting the best out of having a foot in both the MMA and wrestling world.
In order to reach the finals the two-time NCAA champion needed to overcome Russia’s Kurbanov Rashid in the semifinals. After the wrestlers split the first two periods, Askren pinned his opponent at the 1:17 mark of the third period.
On the day Akren also defeat Brian Surage, Spain’s Airam Gonzalez Garcia and Canada’s 2008 Olympian Matt Gentry.
Next up for Askren is another wrestling tournament. He plans on competing in the Cerro Palado International Tournament in Cuba on Feb. 20. Before he makes his Bellator debut on April 8, he will compete in the Alexander Medved International Tournament in Belarus on March 13.
Fellow Bellator FC fighter Joe Warren was schedule to take part in Friday’s Greco-Roman tournament, but he did not participate. Ryutaro Matsumoto, who recently defeated Warren at the Kit Carson Cup, finished in second place in the 60 kg division.
Sengoku prospect Liu Deli dropped his first round match to 2009 World Silver medalist Dremiel Byers. However, he rallied back to win three straight matches and take third place in the 120 kg division in Greco-Roman.
Ben Askren (USA) vs. Matt Gentry (Canada)
Freestyle semifinals (Askren vs. Kurbanov at 35:44)
Freestyle finals (Askren vs. Paulson at 25:10 mark)