Who had the better MMA career: Jake Shields or Ben Askren

[SalvadorAllende]

I go with the guy that beat a prime Hendo.

 

[dalegordon]

Shields has much better resume and fought for the ufc belt. Askren was too late

 

[Spiderbite]

Hate all you want, but Shields is arguably in the all-time WW top 5, and definitely top 10.

 

[ultra321]

Shields and its not even close...

 

[WaylonMercy5150]

I'll take the guy who didn't get knocked out by a youtuber.

 

[mkt]

Sheilds but askren beat some.very dangerous guys that are up there with some.of Jakes wins. Just because someone fights outside of the ufc doesn't make them a scrub. Lima and koreshkov would absolutely murk a lot of top 10 ufc guys.

The green version of Lima and Koreshkov that Askren fought would be outwrestled by UFC wrestlers like GSP, Koscheck, Fitch, Shields, etc. around the same time that Ben beat them. In addition, "prime" Bellator Askren would've lost to a lot of UFC WWs circa 2009-2013. He barely beat Jay Hieron.

Shields is the obvious answer here. Fitch also had a much better and longer MMA career than Askren.

 

[Substance Abuse]

Is this a joke? Lol

 

[Chubi]

Shields beat Maia, who beat Askren. Done.

 

[mkt]

Jake Shields is a lot more proven. I do think Ben could've done some big things had he been granted a chance in the UFC much earlier. His last run and the Jake Paul mess has made him look so bad tho, most people will never know that was a seriously good fighter.

Nah, GSP, prime Lawler, prime Hendricks, Palhares, WW Lombard, Maia, etc. were very bad match-ups for Ben if he came to the UFC instead of Bellator. In fact, he wouldn't get a title shot with GSP. Other wrestlers like Shields, Fitch, Koscheck, etc. would also be tough fights.

 

[mkt]

Shields beat Maia, who beat Askren. Done.

While this may technically be MMA Math, those fights do show the difference. Keep in mind that Askren was quite a bit younger than Maia, too, even though both were past their primes. Shields' sub-defense and overall MMA grappling and knowledge were on a different level than Ben's....even if Askren is the better pure wrestler. The FloWrestling video of Ben training with Jake also show this.

 

[Topher]

Agree with the not even close sentiment.

Askren has some good wins he absolutely made Koreshkov look like an amateur. But Lima certainly has improved in spades.

Jake fought at a higher level more consistent. Ben has a fairly padded record from Bellator and ONE.

 

[Elvis.]

Shields

 

[machidafan99]

Shields

 

[thewilks]

Shields has a decent case for #3 all-time WW. Definitely top 5

I miss the days when the WW Mt. Rushmore was GSP, Hughes, Shields, and Condit / Nick Diaz.

 

[G10]

Shields certainly had the better career, but I think Askren's legacy would be much different had he gotten into the UFC, sooner. Say what you will about Askren, but he ALWAYS fought the best guys in front of him. Sadly for his legacy, Bellator and One didn't have very many tough guys in his weight class. By the time he got to the UFC, he was in his mid-thirties with a lot of miles on him.

 

[Poser Caust]

It would have been a great fight to see if they fought eachother during there primes

 

[Domitian]

Shields did but it's kind of unfair to Ben that he never got a shot in UFC during his prime years.

 

[Jorge Luis Borges]

Ben was unfortunate to not be able to compete in the UFC during his prime

See, I think he was fortunate.

 

[theincognito]

Askren would have had an under .500 UFC career even in his prime. Too one dimensional.

 

[Bork Neslar]