zirovsky

Zebaztian “The Bandit” Kadestam , 27, of Stockholm, Sweden is set to challenge undefeated mixed martial artist Ben “Funky” Askren, 33, of Hartland, Wisconsin, United States. The latter is the reigning welterweight world champion of ONE Championship, which is based in Singapore.

Even though there are many combat practices in mixed martial arts, Askren stands firm on the notion that wrestling is the most vital discipline in the sport. In the constantly-evolving arena of martial arts, many competitors and coaches are still striving to discover what training formula results in consistent success.

Askren is highly regarded for his outstanding wrestling background that earned him two NCAA Division I national championship trophies and the privilege to represent the U.S. at the 2008 Beijing Olympics. He said, “If you’re going to ask a lot of the mixed martial artists, they’re going to say that wrestling is the number one martial art to learn.”

While many children were motivated to first pick up a basketball because of Michael Jordan or kick a soccer ball because of David Beckham, Askren was a little different. Growing up in the Midwestern part of the U.S., a region traditionally known as a hotbed for amateur wrestling, the MMA fighter from Hartland was motivated by the spirit of competition and wanted to participate in a sport where he could be the master of his own fate.

“What really attracted me to wrestling was it was a one-on-one sport, and you make or break your destiny,” Askren said. “I did not like to let other people control my destiny. I wanted to be in control of my own destiny. I wanted it to be my fault if I won, or my fault if I lost so I guess I had a hard time with other people having control over my outcomes.”

Askren had long planned switch to mixed martial arts and conquer that sport once he hung up his wrestling boots.

Following Askren’s 2008 Olympic campaign, he made the transition and has flawlessly translated his impeccable grappling skills into his growing skillset. He has been perfect in competition, amassing an immaculate professional record of 16-0 with 1 no contest en route to becoming the ONE Welterweight World Champion.

“Being a champion is more than wearing a gold belt around your waist,” Askren said. “It is a lot about how you live, and a lot about how you affect others around you by the way you live and train.”

On September 2, 2017, Askren will defend his ONE Welterweight World Championship title against Kadestam in the main event of “ONE Championship: Shanghai” at the Shanghai Oriental Sports Center in Shanghai, China. A tall order is in front of the American champion as his Swedish opponent is armed with a dangerous striking game as he possesses a top-shelf Muay Thai skillset with knockout power.

Kadestam made headlines on May 26, 2017 when he knocked out Luis Santos of Belem, Para, Brazil. Askren said Kadestam “is tough and he is durable and that showed in the match with Santos.”

According to Askren, Kadestam “took some hard shots but stayed in there and kept competing. Although he stakes his undefeated record and the coveted ONE Welterweight World Championship title against a dangerous foe like Kadestam, Askren believes there is nothing his opponent can do that will prepare him for what is about to come.

“It does not matter what my opponent’s strengths and weaknesses are because at the end of the day, I have got the trump card,” Askren declared. “He cannot stop my wrestling then he is going to be on his back, and he is going to get beaten up.”

“I will come across the cage,” Askren continued. “I will grab you, I will put you on your back and I will punch you until you ask the referee to stop me from doing so. The other option is that I am going to make you tap.”

For the past eight years, dating back to his professional debut in February 2009, his unstoppable strategy has worked brilliantly for Askren, who does not see any reason to stray from his strength.

Although Kadestam might be an underdog, Askren is not taking the match lightly. The reigning champion said he knows the feeling of being an underdog because he has been in that situation.

“Nobody should write off an underdog but this is what I can assure,” Askren said. “Wrestling has always been my bread-and-butter. Once I get you on the mat, it’s a matter of seconds before I finish you.”

With a superb wrestling pedigree, Askren believes he is really effective at what he does. He said, “I never made a secret of it and I always played to my strengths and that is something a lot of people get away from.”

“They do not play to their strengths and I always play to my strengths and I have been very focused and determined on what I do,” Askren said. “So far, it has worked out well.”