Ben Askren Says His MMA Skills Are Like a Lion or a Bear Hunting

Published 02/28/2021, 11:46 PM EST

Former UFC welterweight, Ben Askren, spoke out on his Vlog platform that’s being filmed ahead of his boxing debut. Askren takes on 2-0 professional boxer, Jake Paul, in an 8-round match-up on April 17 under the Triller banner. Askren isn’t particularly known for his striking prowess, and fans are curious to see how the bout will play out.

‘The Problem Child’ will be facing a professional in the combat sports realm for the first time in his career. He has fought a fellow YouTuber and NBA star thus far. Hence, facing an MMA champion like Askren is a huge step-up. There are several intriguing facets to the aforementioned bout, and there’s no doubt that fans are compelled.

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Ben Askren provides an update on his training

‘Funky’ Ben joined the laundry list of combat sports stars who have documented their journeys through their training camps. Even though the fight is several weeks out, Askren explained that his stand-up and endurance have improved significantly. Hence, as the fight draws near, he’ll be optimistic in his ability to put out a formidable performance.

“We did all eight rounds today, that’s how long my fight is going to be. I think last week I did five rounds and six rounds or something to that effect, and I remember I was significantly more tired. We’re seven weeks and a couple of days out from my fight, so to feel a good eight rounds this far out is tremendous.”

‘Funky Ben’- Cheetah, Lion or Bear?

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Askren did a deep dive into the elevation of his skill set on the feet. True to form, he provided fans with an interesting analogy to compare the transition of his skills.

“My footwork is feeling great. It’s something I never really thought about too much in MMA cause my MMA is like make contact with the guy, just move forward. Hunt him like a cheetah hunting a gazelle. Probably not that fast, probably more like a Lion or something of a large bear that’s slow but aggressive.”

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“And now I’m already feeling forward, back, side to side, and then slipping and stuff. I got made fun of for my head motion cause it’s sh*t but it’s like no one hit me so what’s the fu**ing point.”

There’s a lot of subtle pressure on Askren’s shoulder’s as he gears up to box Jake Paul. The MMA world will be watching, and it wouldn’t be a good look if he were to falter against Paul. While ‘The Problem Child’ has been training dedicatedly on paper, there’s no way he should triumph over a veteran combat sportsman.

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Darryl Pinto is a senior MMA writer at EssentiallySports. He is currently pursuing his graduate degree in Mass Media (with a specialization in Journalism) out of Xavier’s College and has a year's experience in his current role. Darryl specializes in predictions, reporting, and covering UFC events live.

Ben Askren Says His MMA Skills Are Like a Lion or a Bear Hunting

Ben Askren provides an update on his training

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‘Funky Ben’- Cheetah, Lion or Bear?