When an athlete can’t take criticism, the one thing that gets said with great regularity is, “how would that reporter know, he has never played the game.” Yes there are reporters out there who are great at what they do and have never played the sport they are covering at a high level. There are a few who have, but for the most part, the majority of media watch and report.
But for some reason there are people like Ben Askren (10-0) of Bellator who feel the need to criticize MMAFighting.com’s Ariel Helwani for calling Askren’s Main Event fight at Bellator 64 against Douglas Lima, boring. Below is their little Twitter squabble.
Ben Askren @Benaskren
@arielhelwani Are you mad at me bc I was cooking lunch during your interview? Or bc I said something to the Canadian fans?Ben Askren @Benaskren
Hey @arielhelwani I am still waiting on your expert advice. What strategy would have helped me finish the fight?kmax1940 @kmax1940
Hit harder or submit him.Ben Askren @Benaskren
easier said than donejengro71 @Jengro71
I am sure Ben does not have guts to face you on the airAriel Helwani @arielhelwani
@benaskren never even responded to my invitation 🙁Ben Askren @Benaskren
you never invited me and you never answered my questionAriel Helwani @arielhelwani
yes I did. Yesterday.Ben Askren @Benaskren
well I invite you to go in a cage with me. When you do that I will do your show. Otherwise kiss my ass.Ariel Helwani @arielhelwani
well, that response is disappointing. I stated my opinion and was more than happy to have you come on to tell me what’s what.Ariel Helwani @arielhelwani
anyhow, all the best to you.Josh C @_allmyfriends
Ariel, be careful if you get in a cage with him…make sure there’s rounds, or you might die of old age.
Askren knows that there is no way Helwani would ever get into a cage with him. In fact it’s a rather idiotic request. No offense but Helwani fights the wind when he walks outside and would never be confused for a fighter or any athlete for that matter. There is no reason for Ben to act like a tough guy because someone called his fighting style boring. Let’s be honest for a second, he goes by the nickname, “The White Jon Fitch.” So clearly you can see what kind of guy we are dealing with here.
I watched the Main Event of Bellator 64 and I thought Askren put on a good ass kicking, but it definitely wasn’t a Picasso. Not every fight is or can be a work of art. Askren has always been about the wrestling and has been very outspoken about his ability. All though he is undefeated, his last six fights have all gone to decision. Last year Ben had this to say on Sherdog,
I know I can take anyone in mixed martial arts down, period. I can pretty much take down anyone in the world. I might not be able to beat anyone in the world, especially in freestyle wrestling. In folkstyle, I really honestly think that I could probably beat anyone in the world in the sport of folkstyle wrestling. So when I got in the sport of mixed martial arts, I knew for a fact that I’d be able to take anyone down that I want. So after that, my next point of emphasis is jiu-jitsu. If I can take anyone down and no one can submit me, then already at that point, I’m a very, very difficult person to beat. I got some black belts and I said, ‘Come on. Submit me as many times as you can, and I’m going to figure out how to get out of it.’ Right away I’m a tough person to beat because I’ve got good cardio. I’m not going to quit. I’m going to take you down, and you can’t submit me. … Now I’m starting to work on my hands just in case there’s someone who I do prefer to stand up with.
Note to Askren, maybe worry about your performance and those hands of yours that you’re supposedly working on and less time about what media says about you. There is no doubt that Askren is talented. Nonetheless he really needs to start thinking about his career, and if that includes fighting in the UFC one day, he better start figuring out ways to finish his opponents instead of a lay and pray style that gets a decision victory. There is no way Dana White will want another Fitch in his organization.
The fact of the matter is athletes in every sport need to just sit back and worry about themselves instead of going after media for being critical. Not every MMA media member needs to have a black belt in Jiu-Jitsu or have a fight record to be considered knowledgeable. Some of the best in the industry like E. Spencer Kyte, Ben Fowlkes, Damon Martin, and yes Ariel Helwani have black belts in putting words to screen and do a great job in promoting the sport and the fighters.
Guys like Ben Askren, and yes you can include Rampage Jackson in this conversation, need to worry more about their skills and how to become better athletes, otherwise the notoriety they are currently receiving will be gone with a blink of an eye. Being an elite athlete is more than just about wins. It’s also about playing the game and marketing your brand.
The sport doesn’t need fighters to be “douche nozzles” There already is a core of bar star, bling wearing, pretend tough guys out there that already do a good job of representing that sect.
-Corner Man-
