We all know that wrestling is essential to having a complete MMA game. You can be the best striker on this planet, but if you don’t know how to fend off a double leg takedown then you’re likely not going to go too far in high level mixed martial arts. Wrestling is perhaps the most important skill to have in MMA and because of that very reason stars like Matt Hughes, Jon Jones, Cain Velasquez, and much more were able to dominate the competition. Another two well decorated wrestlers who have made the transition to MMA are former UFC middleweight champion Chris Weidman and ONE FC welterweight champion Ben Askren.
Ben Askren is true monster when it comes to wrestling. Granted that’s made a ton of his fights boring because no one can get up from under him, it does show that Askren has a ground game that should be feared and respected. Chris Weidman is no slouch on the mat himself winning numerous championships of his own before eventually becoming an All American in wrestling. Both men have utilized their skill sets to become champions, demonstrating just how essential a freestyle wrestling game is for high level MMA.
Now, likely you’re not blind and you’ve already read the title of this article so you know something that has to do with Chris Weidman facing off against Ben Askren is coming. But perhaps not in the way that you may be thinking. Before either of these decorated wrestlers entered a cage and exchanged leather with other combatants, they met on the mat in a high school wrestling meet. Check out the video below to get a glimpse of Chris Weidman and Ben Askren battling on a wrestling mat.
What’s your thoughts on these two wrestling monsters?
Jonathan Salmon is a writer, martial arts instructor, and geek culture enthusiast. Check out his Twitter and Facebook to keep up with his antics.
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