UFC welterweight champ Tyron Woodley believes his friend and teammate Ben Askren would easily defeat the likes of Khabib Nurmagomedov and Georges St-Pierre.
The current UFC welterweight champion, Woodley, has known the former ONE Championship and Bellator welterweight title holder, Askren, for a long time. The pair originally wrestled together at University of Missouri, this before once again linking up to train under legendary striking coach Duke Roufus in Milwaukee.
With that said, “The Chosen One” is well aware of “Funky’s” abilities and believes that Askren could easily defeat the likes of Georges St-Pierre or Khabib Nurmagomedov when he officially joins the UFC roster.
Check out what Woodley had to say during an Instagram Live session (transcribed by Damon Martin).
“I’m happy for my homie Ben Askren, he’s one of the best fighters in the world,” Woodley said. “Not just UFC, not just Bellator, not just ONE FC, he’s had a remarkable career combatively. I would consider wrestling a combative sport as well. Four time finalist in the NCAA’s, [two] time champ, only lost to two individuals ever in collegiate wrestling, made an Olympic team. He really revolutionized scrambling or as he calls it ‘funk’. Phenomenal guy, my wrestling coach, obviously my teammate.”
There are a ton of interesting matchups for Ben Askren in the UFC, but maybe none more compelling than potential fights with Georges St-Pierre or Khabib Nurmagomedov.
The current UFC welterweight champion, who is coming off a stoppage victory over Darren Till at UFC 228, continued:
“Khabib is a ‘G’ but Khabib ain’t never fought nobody like Ben,” Woodley said. “He never fought anybody like Ben, he ain’t never fought nobody like Michael Chandler. Those guys would wreck him on life. Chandler’s intensity is more, his striking is better. Ben doesn’t have the same intensity but his style is not one of intensity.
“His style is one of scrambling, one of static strength, one of consistency, pressure, and ground and pound is ridiculous, jiu-jitsu is ridiculous, wrestling is ridiculous. His ability to get in close and put himself into positions where he’s going to be successful is bar none some of the best I’ve ever seen.”
Woodley did not stop there, as he went on to proclaim that former welterweight kingpin Georges St-Pierre “wouldn’t stand a chance” against his buddy Ben Askren.
“Georges St-Pierre would never stand a chance against Ben,” Woodley added. “Ben thrives against guys’ offensive onslaughts and GSP’s whole thing was always timing. If you ever see some video a long time ago, Ben Askren grappling against Jake Shields and I’m going to tell you this one thing — the highlights of the video were not on that video. Ben is just on a different level.”
Do you agree with Tyron Woodley that Ben Askren could easily defeat the likes of Georges St-Pierre and Khabib Nurmagomedov? Sound off PENN Nation!