Press Release – (Milwaukee, Wisconsin, USA): Roufusport is proud to announce the addition of former Olympian and current Bellator Welterweight Champion Ben “Funky” Askren (8-0) to its fight team. The champ will continue to be managed by Zinkin Entertainment, while he will now be training full-time with Duke Roufus and the team of Roufusport fighters. “I’m very excited,” says Askren. “I think Duke can do a lot for my mixed martial arts game.”
The 26 year-old wrestling phenom has already experienced a decorated athletic career that many can only dream of. After winning two state wrestling championships at Arrowhead High School in Hartland, Wisconsin, Askren made it to the NCAA championship match his first two years competing for the University of Missouri, and then won the title in 2006 and 2007. The holder of the single-season NCAA pin record, “Funky” earned the Outstanding Wrestler award at the NCAA Championships, the coveted Dan Hodge Trophy (2nd competitor ever to win the award twice), the Schalles Award, and the Rev Wrestler of the Year (twice) during his amateur career. The four-time All American was also nominated for an ESPY award in 2007 in the category “Best Male College Athlete.” After college, Askren joined the U.S. Olympic team, competing at the 2008 Olympic Games.
“Funky” has strong roots in Wisconsin, as he spent his formative years growing up there. He is strengthening those local roots, as he will open the Askren Wrestling Academy in nearby Hartland on April 16th. Running the gym with him will be his former high school wrestling coach, and the 2010 Wisconsin High School Wrestling Coach of the Year, John Mesenbrink. Mesenbrink already works with the Roufusport fight team, and Askren will start training full-time with them in the late summer.
“Obviously, Duke’s kickboxing background is going to improve my standup greatly,” states the champion. “But Roufusport has a really well-rounded team. So I can improve all aspects of my game at the same time, and not just my standup.”
Askren will now be training full-time for the first time in his career, and will be working with fighters such as the last WEC Lightweight Champion and current UFC lightweight title contender Anthony “Showtime” Pettis, UFC heavyweight star Pat “HD” Barry, rising UFC featherweight star Erik Koch, UFC featherweight prospect Daniel “Danny Boy” Downes, and established UFC stars Alan Belcher and Ben Rothwell.
Roufusport head trainer Duke Roufus is excited to have Askren as part of the team, and had this to say: “Ben is a world class wrestler, and I’m very pleased to have him joining our fight team. I believe we’re going to help him take the next step in his career, while his wrestling will only benefit the other guys on the team.”
While already considered one of the best young fighters in the game, “Funky” takes a realistic view of his position in the growth of his career. “I think I have a lot of room for growth. I’m already ranked in the top twenty in the world, but I still think I’m a very incomplete fighter. I’m going to get a lot better, so I think the sky’s the limit for me.”
About Roufusport
Roufusport is run by famed kickboxer and MMA trainer Duke Roufus and his business partner Scott Joffe. It is a world class brand that includes a state-of-the-art training facility, fight team, and MMA promotion, the North American Fighting Championship. Roufus is one of the most recognizable striking and MMA coaches in North America, and is considered to be one of the top trainers of Muay Thai kickboxing outside of Thailand. He is the head coach of the Roufusport Fight Club team, which includes UFC stars Alan Belcher, Patrick Barry, Anthony “Showtime” Pettis, Erik Koch, “Danny Boy” Downes, Ben Rothwell, and Bellator Welterweight Champion Ben Askren. Former students include former UFC Lightweight Champion Jens Pulver, The Ultimate Fighter season one star Stephan Bonnar, and UFC rising star Matt Mitrione. Roufus and Joffe operate the Roufusport Martial Arts Academy in Milwaukee, Wisconsin.