When Corey Anderson first met Ben Askren as a successful college wrestler, he couldn`t have imagined how profoundly that meeting would shape his future.
Askren, a highly accomplished wrestler himself (two-time National Champion, 2008 Olympian), was impressed by Anderson`s competitive spirit. He invited Anderson to train with him and encouraged him to consider mixed martial arts. This guidance proved pivotal; Anderson trained with Askren, landed a spot on The Ultimate Fighter reality show, launching a decade-long career where he became a top light heavyweight and the last 205-pound champion in Bellator history.
Currently, Askren is in the hospital recovering from a severe battle with pneumonia that necessitated a double lung transplant. While his wife Amy keeps everyone updated, Anderson shared that witnessing his friend and mentor face such a serious health crisis has deeply affected him.
He revealed, “I`m not typically emotional, but just mentioning Ben`s name brings tears to my eyes right now.” He added that he and his wife pray for Askren nightly. “Every time I come in from the gym… I can hear her in there… and every time she comes out, she has tears in her eyes.”
His wife, Jennifer, is also significantly impacted by Askren`s health issues, underscoring the vital role he`s played in *both* their lives.Remarkably, Anderson and his wife`s paths might never have crossed if not for Askren.
Anderson emphasized Askren`s broader impact: “Not just my career, but my life wouldn`t be what it is without Ben. That goes beyond competing; it`s my entire life. I met my wife because of Ben Askren. I have two beautiful kids, a wife, a fight career… essentially, everything I have as an adult came about because of Ben Askren.”
He elaborated on the connection: “He invited me to an MMA gym, and the very day I first stepped inside, my wife was working at the front desk. That`s how we met. Years later, we started a relationship, and she moved here.”
Since leaving college in Wisconsin and dedicating himself to MMA, Anderson has trained at various gyms, but Askren`s influence and support have been a constant throughout his career.
Anderson noted that Askren is consistently one of the first people he turns to whenever he needs guidance or advice.
He shared, “Every time we visit home, we see Ben. If I have any issue in fighting… even now, before my upcoming fight, my wife reminds me to message Ben. If I need advice on promoting myself without compromising my integrity, I reach out to Ben. For any problem, I contact Ben.”
He considers Askren and Eddie Alvarez his primary mentors in the sport: “The two people I talk to are Ben Askren and Eddie Alvarez. They`re the longest-standing figures in the sport who serve as my biggest mentors, guiding me in the right direction because they`ve experienced and done it all.”
Anderson acknowledged the difficulty of recent weeks with Askren hospitalized, stating the former Bellator and ONE champion remains constantly in his thoughts and prayers.
Even while preparing for his return fight at the upcoming PFL Africa event, Anderson`s thoughts are frequently with Askren and his recovery from the lung transplant.
Above all, Anderson eagerly anticipates the day he can simply call Askren and hear his voice again.
Reflecting on Askren`s multifaceted impact, Anderson said, “Ben pretty much directed me toward the life I have – my wife, my MMA career, the first gym I ever trained at. He coached me in college and helped me reach the NCAA National Finals. He`s done so many things, even giving me hunting spots for my channel. It`s all because of Ben. There`s not much I can *do* to help him physically right now.”
He concluded with a heartfelt wish: “I just want to be able to call and talk to him, even if he can`t talk back. Just be there for him. It`s a strange situation. You just keep praying and hoping he pulls through.”
Percy Harlow