Corey Anderson first encountered Ben Askren during his college wrestling career, a time when he was already achieving significant recognition. He had no inkling back then how this meeting would completely alter his future.
Askren, an acclaimed two-time National Champion wrestler and 2008 Olympian, was impressed by Anderson`s mindset and competitive drive. He invited Anderson to train with him and suggested he consider a career in mixed martial arts. This guidance proved highly influential; Anderson trained alongside Askren before securing a spot on the reality show The Ultimate Fighter. This platform launched his professional journey, leading him to become a consistently top-ranked light heavyweight fighter for the subsequent decade and concluding as Bellator`s final 205-pound champion.
Currently, Askren is hospitalized, recovering from a severe case of pneumonia that necessitated a double lung transplant. While Askren`s wife, Amy, is providing regular updates on his condition, Anderson admits that seeing his friend and mentor endure such a serious health crisis has deeply affected him.
“It impacts my wife more profoundly,” Anderson shared. “I`m not typically someone who shows a lot of emotion. But right now, just hearing Ben`s name brings tears to my eyes. We pray for him every night. When I return home from the gym, I often hear her on her Zoom call, and she always emerges with tears.”
“It`s the same whenever we discuss the situation, or she shares something someone has posted, and we talk about it; I can see how much she is hurting.”
The reason for his wife Jennifer`s strong emotional reaction to Askren`s current health situation is the significant role he has played in both their lives.
Indeed, Anderson and his wife might never have met if it weren`t for Askren.
“It’s not just about my career, but my entire life—my life wouldn’t be what it is today if it weren’t for Ben,” Anderson stated. “That extends beyond just fighting. It’s my whole life. I met my wife because of Ben Askren. I have two wonderful children and a wife. I have my fighting career. It feels like everything significant in my adult life originated because of Ben Askren.”
“Because this individual invited me to an MMA gym, and on the specific day I first entered that gym, my wife happened to be working behind the front desk. That’s when we first encountered each other. Years later, we began a relationship, and she eventually moved here.”
After leaving his college in Wisconsin and transitioning to a full-time MMA career, Anderson has trained at numerous facilities in preparation for his bouts, yet Askren has consistently been a presence and source of support throughout his journey.
Anderson explains that whenever he needs guidance or advice, Ben Askren is almost always one of the first people he contacts.
“Every time we go back home, we make sure to visit Ben,” Anderson said. “If I encounter an issue within the fight world, even recently before my upcoming fight, my wife suggested I message Ben. If I need help with something like improving my public image without compromising my integrity, I’ll reach out to Ben. For any problem, I turn to Ben.”
“The two people I frequently consult are Ben Askren and Eddie Alvarez. They are my most important mentors, having been involved in the sport for the longest time, capable of directing me correctly because they possess extensive experience and have navigated all aspects of it.”
Anderson admits that the past few weeks have been difficult with Askren hospitalized, but the former Bellator and ONE champion remains constantly in his thoughts and prayers.
Even as he prepares for his return to competition at the PFL Africa event scheduled for next Saturday, Anderson consistently thinks about how Askren is progressing in his recovery following the lung transplant.
More than anything, Anderson is eagerly anticipating the moment he can simply pick up the phone and hear Askren`s voice on the other end once more.
“Ben Askren essentially guided me towards the life I currently live,” Anderson stated, “covering everything from meeting my wife, starting in MMA at the first gym I ever joined, coaching me in college, and helping me reach the NCAA National Finals. He’s done so many different things; he even recommended hunting locations for my hunting channel. It’s all thanks to Ben. It feels difficult not being able to directly assist him.”
“I just want to be able to call and talk to him. Even if he can’t respond. Just be present. It’s a strange situation. You just keep praying and hoping that he comes through it okay.”
Murray Blackwood