The Wrestling is Life camp is back, and this year it's bigger and better than ever! From July 1 - July 3, 2025, aspiring wrestlers will converge at Aurora University for an unparalleled training experience.
This year's camp is designed as a Fargo National training camp, aimed at serious wrestlers looking to elevate their game. The venue at Aurora University places dorms and training facilities a mere 100 feet apart, ensuring minimal distractions and maximum focus.
Each Camper will be required to go into “Zero Distractions training camp”. This camp will feature not only Illinois wrestlers, but the top wrestlers from around the country who are preparing for Fargo Nationals.
What to Expect at the Camp
The 2025 Wrestling is Life camp promises an intense and focused environment. Here's what participants can look forward to:
- Top-Tier Training: Designed for serious wrestlers preparing for Fargo Nationals.
- Elite Collaboration: Izzy Style and Team Askren are joining forces for the second year in a row.
- Focused Environment: The "Zero Distractions training camp" ensures maximum concentration.
- National Talent: Wrestlers from Illinois and across the country will be participating.
The Legacy of Ben Askren
Benjamin Michael Askren (born July 18, 1984) is an American former professional mixed martial artist, professional boxer and Olympic wrestler. He is a highly accomplished grappler, who was a 2008 US Olympic Team Member and National champion in freestyle wrestling.
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An accomplished grappler, he was a 2008 US Olympic Team Member and National champion in freestyle wrestling. He also was the 2005 Pan American champion as a freestyle wrestler.
In college, Askren was a two-time NCAA Division I national champion (four-time finalist), and three-time Big 12 Conference champion (four-time finalist) for the Missouri Tigers, and was the second wrestler to secure multiple Dan Hodge Trophies (the wrestling equivalent of the Heisman Trophy) in folkstyle wrestling.
During his freshman campaign (2003-04), Askren won the Big 12 Conference Championships and placed second at the NCAA Championships, with both matches being against standout from Oklahoma State Chris Pendleton.
Despite his style relying heavily in folkstyle rules, Askren was able to adapt fairly well to freestyle wrestling after his graduation from college.
After working on adapting his style during 2007, Askren claimed the US National Championship in April and followed up by making the US Olympic Team in June.
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At the 2008 Summer Olympics, Askren defeated Hungarian István Veréb via fall in the first round, but fell in the quarterfinals to Cuba's Iván Fundora on points.
In 2010, he avenged his Olympic loss by defeating Fundora in the semifinals of the Cerro Pelado International in Cuba. This came shortly after Askren won the Dave Schultz Memorial International.
Later the same year, Askren defeated 2009 world silver medalist Jake Herbert in a folkstyle rules match at the Midlands Tournament. Askren also competed in the Agon Wrestling Championships and the Flo Premier League.
MMA Career Highlights
Askren made his professional MMA debut on February 7, 2009. Askren competed at the 2009 ADCC Submission Wrestling World Championship from September 26-27, in Barcelona, Spain. He won his first match against Toni Linden by arm triangle choke. He lost his second match to Pablo Popovitch, a veteran grappler he had trained with the previous summer, by figure four footlock early in the match.
Askren was a participant in Bellator Fighting Championships Season 2 Welterweight Tournament. In his first fight, Askren defeated Ryan Thomas via technical submission at Bellator 14 on April 15, 2010.
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On October 21, 2010, in Philadelphia Askren took on the Bellator Welterweight Champion Lyman Good. Despite being hit with a brutal upkick and almost getting caught in a triangle choke with one minute left, he was able to take down and control Good in every round.
Askren next returned at Bellator 40 to fight and defeat Nick Thompson after taking down and controlling Thompson for all three rounds. Although Askren started off quickly in the third round with a spinning back fist and several other strikes, he was caught with an overhand right by Thompson, causing Askren to take down and control Thompson for the remainder of the round.
Next for Askren was a title defense against Karl Amoussou, the fight taking place at Bellator 86 on January 24, 2013. Askren once again used his top control wrestling to shut down his opponents grappling, and opened a cut on Amoussou's forehead with an elbow strike.
Askren met Bakhtiyar Abbasov, who had been riding a nine-fight win streak, in the main event of ONE FC: Honor and Glory on May 30. He won the fight via submission (arm-triangle choke) in the first round, and proceeded to call out ONE champion Nobutatsu Suzuki, stating "Suzuki is going to bring me my belt.
Askren faced Suzuki at ONE Fighting Championship: Reign of Champions on August 29, 2014. Askren then faced fellow veteran Shinya Aoki at ONE Championship: Immortal Pursuit on November 24, 2017. Prior to the bout, he claimed this would be his last fight. He won the fight via TKO due to punches early in the first round.
Askren made his UFC debut against the former UFC Welterweight Champion Robbie Lawler on March 2, 2019, at UFC 235. Askren won the fight via bulldog choke in the first round, through a controversial stoppage by referee Herb Dean.
Health Update
On June 7, 2025, Askren's wife, Amy Askren, announced in a social media post that Askren had been hospitalized with "severe pneumonia" that had developed as a result of a staph infection and that he was sedated, in a critical condition, and would likely require a lung transplant.
On June 30, 2025, Askren's wife announced in a social media post that Askren had received a double lung transplant. On July 9, 2025, Askren posted a video discussing his condition on social media.
Titles and Accomplishments
Askren's career is marked by numerous titles and achievements:
- Defended the ONE Welterweight Championship.
- Retained the ONE Welterweight Championship.
- Defended the Bellator Welterweight World Championship.
- Fight of the Night (One time) vs. 2009 St. UFC Fight Night: Maia vs.
Additional Information
Max and Ben Askren grew up in Hartland, WI; under the tutelage of John Mesenbrink, both won state titles at Arrowhead and went on NCAA Div 1 Championships at the University of Missouri.
Askren Wrestling Academy runs 3 locations; Lake Country location, North Shore location and Green Bay location.