The Independent Voice of Mixed Martial Arts
Former Olympic wrestler, Ben Askren, made his professional MMA debut at HEADHUNTER PRODUCTIONS: PATRIOT ACT in Columbia, Missouri on Feb. 7, 2009. He fought Josh Flowers in a 170 lbs (welterweight) bout.
Din Thomas vs. Dustin Piekin after the jump…
HEADHUNTER PRODUCTIONS: THE PATRIOT ACT went down last night, Saturday, February 7 at the Holiday Inn Executive Center in Columbia, Missouri. The card featured a number of representatives from The Hit Squad and American Top Team as well as dual main events featuring Din Thomas and the pro debut of Ben Askren.
Ben Askren was a U.S. Olympic and former University of Missouri wrestler who finished his collegiate career with a record of 153-8, with 91 of those victories coming by way of fall. Those 91 pins put him at third on the all-time NCAA Division I pins list. He was also a four-time All American and two-time NCAA Champion. He made a victorious professional segway into MMA last night.
by: Jack Bratcher
Add Ben Askren as the next Olympian to make the move to mixed martial arts. Now training with American Top Team, he is expected to make his official debut in early 2009.
The University of Missouri alumnus was a four-time All-American and two-time NCAA wrestling champion, ending his collegiate career with 87 straight wins and back-to-back undefeated seasons.
During his time at Missouri, Askren began taking jiu-jitsu and considered competing in MMA however, after winning his division at the U.S. Olympic Trials he found himself in the Beijing Olympics where he advanced to the quarterfinals.