Lex Fridman Podcast

#242 – Ben Askren: Wrestling and MMA

Nov 20, 2021

In this engaging talk, MMA legend Ben Askren shares insights from his remarkable career as a two-time NCAA champion and former Bellator titleholder. He discusses the crucial interplay of strategy in wrestling and MMA, his emotional journey through competition, and the impact of injuries. Askren reflects on the boxing landscape, including his experience facing Jake Paul, while emphasizing the importance of innovation and learning in combat sports. The conversation also touches on mental health, cryptocurrency, and the joy of mentoring young wrestlers.

02:21:31

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Episode guests

Ben Askren

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Episode notes

Intro

2min

The Intersection of Wrestling and MMA: Strategies for Success

5min

Combat Sports Dynamics: A Deep Dive

16min

Wrestling, Loss, and Lessons Learned

21min

The Joy of Wrestling: Passion Beyond Competition

2min

Wrestling Challenges: Skills and Strategies

14min

The Evolution of Wrestling Skills Through Creative Exploration

4min

AI in Wrestling: Bridging Human Motion and Robotics

15min

The Accessibility Dilemma in Wrestling

6min

10.

Championing the Mat: Legacy of a Wrestling Icon

4min

11.

Mastering Technique: The Sparring Debate

18min

12.

Wrestling Rivalries and MMA Insights

8min

13.

Wrestling and Jiu-Jitsu: A Crossover Journey

12min

14.

Bitcoin's Impact on Unbanked Communities

6min

15.

The Value of Time and the Challenge of Success

2min

16.

Exploring Social Media Dynamics and Competitive Psychology

2min

17.

Navigating Anxiety in Competition

4min

Ben Askren is a wrestler and MMA fighter, former Bellator and ONE Championship welterweight champion, a two-time NCAA wrestling champion and four-time finalist. Please support this podcast by checking out our sponsors:
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EPISODE LINKS:
Ben’s Twitter: https://twitter.com/Benaskren
Ben’s Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/benaskren/
Ben’s Website: https://www.benaskren.com/
Ben’s Wrestling Academy: https://awawisconsin.com/

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OUTLINE:
Here’s the timestamps for the episode. On some podcast players you should be able to click the timestamp to jump to that time.
(00:00) – Introduction
(06:59) – Woodley vs Jake Paul boxing match
(10:48) – Askren vs Jake Paul boxing match
(13:23) – Jordan Burroughs and Kyle Dake
(24:37) – Askren vs Burroughs charity match
(29:21) – Champion mentality and handling losses
(43:40) – Future interest in competition
(53:09) – Askren’s early career
(1:03:58) – Robots wrestling
(1:18:39) – Olympics
(1:24:46) – Dagestan wrestling
(1:30:51) – Askren Wrestling Academy
(1:46:32) – Khabib Nurmagomedov
(1:53:08) – 2020 Olympics
(1:54:49) – Wrestling dominance in MMA

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