Ben Askren, is a former American mixed martial artist and wrestling fan favorite known as “Funky,” and he brings a unique style of fighting to the ring.
He’s an icon of the fight game – an acclaimed UFC and Olympic wrestler, with dual titles as ONE Welterweight Champion and Bellator champion. His world-renowned skills in the ring have earned him adoration from far beyond his home country, but what else does this legend do outside of combat?
Ben Askren Net Worth
Ben Askren has an estimated net worth of $500k and counting! His record speaks for itself: 19 wins in 22 professional bouts. A true champion with a golden touch inside the ring.
Overview Of Ben Askren
Early Life
Ben Askren was born in Iowa’s second-largest city, Cedar Rapids. He joined his family as the younger brother to Max who achieved impressive athletic feats and won a National Title in wrestling back in 2010. Growing up steeped in Christian values from birth, Ben has continued on this path throughout his life.
Ben didn’t shy away from a challenge. He tackled his high school studies and twice reached the wrestling state finals representing Arrowhead High School! His next milestone was an undergrad in Missouri, where we can only imagine how far he pushed himself.
He was employed by Arizona State University as an assistant wrestling coach at the same time. He won numerous honorable wrestling honors throughout his undergraduate time, which boosted his professional career.
Career
Wrestling Career
During his college wrestling days, he put on an impressive show as a 174-lb force to be reckoned with – displaying remarkable skill in amateur competition. In 2006 and 2007, he won the National Collegiate Athletic Association Championship match after losing consecutive matches in the same event in 2004 and 2005.
He is still the NCAA single-season pin leader. At the Big 12 Championships, Sam was an unstoppable force. Taking home gold in both 2006 and 2007 – he dominated with a perfect 42-0 record through the entire ’06-’07 season!
Also, in 2004, 2006, and 2007, he captured the Big 12 Conference Championship. In those days, he was renowned for his unconventional “funky style” wrestling style and his pinning prowess.
Ben wrapped up his NCAA wrestling career in dominant fashion – with a remarkable 87-match winning streak, and only two opponents able to beat him. Truly commanding performances from Ryan Lange of Purdue and Chris Pendleton of Oklahoma State saw Ben finish off at an impressive 153-8!
Olympics 2008
At the US Olympic Trials, he took down national runner-up Tyrone Lewis to secure his spot in the 2008 Summer Olympics. To top it off, he opened with a win while representing Team USA at 74kg!
Due to his loss to Ivan Fundora of Cuba in the round of eight and Fundora’s subsequent defeat in the quarterfinal, he was forced to withdraw from the competition without receiving a medal.
MMA Career
Ben began his fighting training at the primary American Top Team academy in Florida after the Olympics. He defeated Josh Flowers in his professional MMA debut on February 7, 2009, in Columbia.
After that, he defeated Mitchell Harris in his second fight at Patriot Act 2 in Columbia. The 2009 ADCC Submission Wrestling World Championship was the next event in which he competed.
Ben defeated Toni Linden in the first match, but Pablo Popovitch eliminated him in the second encounter. He later won the 84 kg division at the 2009 FILA 2o World Grappling Championship.
Fighting Championship Bellator
Ben then participated in the Season 2 Welterweight Tournament of the Bellator Fighting Championships. Ryan Thomas was defeated by Ben at Bellator 14 and in the rematch at Bellator 19.
After defeating Dan Hornbuckle in all three rounds at Bellator 22, he was then named the competition’s champion. At Bellator 40, 56, 64, and 86, he successfully defended the title four times in a row. The victory over Andrey Koreshkov at Bellator 97 was his last match before his deal with the organization expired in November 2013.
Championship Of ONE
He got a two-year deal with ONE Championship after being released. On May 30, Ben defeated Bakhtiyar Abbasov in the ONE Fighting Championship: Honor and Glory fight, ending his nine-fight winning streak.
He later defeated Nobutastsu Suzuki at ONE FC: Reign of Champions, and on August 29, 2014, he was crowned the new ONE Welterweight Champion. He proved his prowess in the ring: winning all 6 fights and making one a “no contest”. A remarkable feat!
Private Life
Ben and Amy Askren sealed the union of everlasting love on April 9th, 2010 surrounded by friends and family. The union was blessed with three kids, a son, and two beautiful daughters.
Ben enjoys making the most of his trips and vacations – spending quality time with the ones he loves, his wife and children. After a successful relationship and wedding, Amy has been highly supportive of her partner’s professional successes.
Frequently Asked Questions
What MMA Or Boxing Achievements Has Ben Askren Attained?
Ben Askren has a 19-19 record in mixed martial arts (MMA), with 2 losses and 1 no-contest. His victories include six by submission, six more via knockout, and the final seven by decision.
He has experienced the highs and lows of mixed martial arts competition, including one knockout defeat and a submission loss.
What Did Kamaru Usman Hear From Ben Askren?
Ben Askren has implied that Kamaru Usman is a phony, claiming his persona has been altered by the spotlight of MMA. According to Ben, Usman’s act isn’t fooling anyone – and he’s not shy about saying it!
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Estimated Income Breakdown
How the fortune is built. Figures are independent editorial estimates aggregated from the public record.
| Income source | Estimated lifetime value |
|---|---|
| Sports contracts + prize | $900K |
| Business ventures + equity | $400K |
| Other (speaking, misc.) | $200K |
| Estimated total | $1.5M |
As of 2026. Aggregates MMA purses (UFC, ONE, Bellator), the 2021 Jake Paul boxing purse, his Askren Wrestling Academy + media/commentary. Methodology · Corrections.
Known Career Earnings
Documented project-by-project earnings for Ben Askren, sorted by year. Figures are editorial estimates compiled from reported salaries, backend deals and public disclosures. Where only a salary is known, the entry reflects the upfront fee; backend, residuals and bonus payments are separated where reported.
| Year | Project | Type | Note | Reported |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 2008 | NCAA + Olympic wrestling | sports | Two-time NCAA champion + 2008 US Olympian — the wrestling base of his MMA career | $100K |
| 2010 | MMA debut + Bellator | contract | Turned to MMA + won the Bellator Welterweight Championship | $200K |
| 2012 | Bellator champion | sports | Annualized purses as Bellator welterweight champion + a dominant grappler | $400K |
| 2014 | ONE Championship title | contract | Signed with ONE Championship + won its welterweight title; built his profile in Asia | $600K |
| 2016 | ONE title reign + academy | business | Annualized income — ONE purses + his Askren Wrestling Academy business | $700K |
| 2019 | UFC run | contract | A short UFC stint (incl. a record-fast KO loss to Jorge Masvidal) before retiring from MMA | $800K |
| 2021 | Jake Paul boxing match | contract | Boxed Jake Paul on PPV (April 2021) — reportedly one of his larger single purses | $1.5M |
| 2022 | Academy + media | business | Annualized income — his wrestling academy, coaching, podcast/media + appearances | $1.0M |
| 2023 | Coaching + commentary | business | Annualized income — academy/coaching, MMA commentary + media | $1.0M |
| 2024 | Wrestling business + media | business | Annualized income — Askren Wrestling Academy, media + brand ventures | $1.0M |
| 2025 | Academy + ventures | business | Annualized combined income — wrestling academy, coaching, media + ventures | $1.0M |
| 2026 | Business + media | business | Annualized income — wrestling academy, coaching + media/brand ventures | $1.0M |
Reported figures only — projects without public salary disclosure are omitted. See our Methodology for sources and our Corrections Policy if you can document a different figure.
Frequently Asked Questions
Short answers to the most common questions about this profile. For our sourcing and update method, see our Methodology page.
What is Ben Askren's net worth in 2026?
Our editorial estimate places Ben Askren's 2026 net worth around $3 million, built on his MMA purses (UFC, ONE Championship, Bellator), his 2021 boxing match against Jake Paul, his wrestling academy and media work.
Was Ben Askren an Olympic wrestler?
Yes. Before MMA, Ben Askren was a two-time NCAA Division I wrestling champion and a 2008 US Olympic wrestler, which formed the basis of his 'Funky' grappling-heavy fighting style.
Did Ben Askren fight Jake Paul?
Yes. Ben Askren boxed YouTuber-turned-boxer Jake Paul in April 2021, losing by first-round knockout in a high-profile pay-per-view event that delivered one of his larger single paydays.
What championships did Ben Askren win?
Ben Askren was both the Bellator Welterweight Champion and the ONE Championship Welterweight Champion, holding major titles outside the UFC before a short UFC run in 2019.
How old is Ben Askren?
Ben Askren was born on July 18, 1984, in Hartland, Wisconsin, making him 41 years old in 2026.
Who is richer than Ben Askren?
A side-by-side comparison with other sports profiles where reported estimates are available.
