The Takedown | Ben Askren’s UFC career is just warming up – retiring now would be the ultimate tap out
- Ben Askren has been thrown in at the deep end, but Demian Maia loss shows he is adapting to rise in class in UFC
- ‘Funky’ a quick learner who can carry a card, and fighters know his social media savvy will ensure interest in match-ups
Demian Maia was quite rightly basking in the glory of his stunning victory over Ben “Funky” Askren backstage at the Singapore Indoor Stadium late into Saturday night.
The Brazilian took the gathered media through the lightning-fast move that put him into position for the rear-naked choke that ended the bout, then talked a little about his hopes for his immediate future and the two fights which the 41-year-old hopes will bring the curtain down on an astonishing career.
But Maia kept returning his attention to Askren, and eventually he became fully focused on offering his beaten foe some advice from someone who has been through it all.
“Askren can win, he can beat most guys in the division,” said Maia. “He can take a punch, he can take you down. It is very hard to defend against his takedowns. He walks through punches because he has a tough head.”
News coming in on Tuesday that Askren might be considering walking away from the fight game should be cause for some concern both among fans and his fellow fighters.
