UFC's 5 Biggest Winners And Losers In November
5. Stock Down: Ben Askren
After losing to Demian Maia in late October, Ben Askren's stock had already taken a major hit heading into the month of November. However, announcing his retirement, after amassing a 1-2 record in the UFC, certainly doesn't help things.
Following the historic trade between One Championship and the UFC, Askren did a brilliant job building anticipation for his debut by calling out seemingly every fighter on the UFC roster. With his ability to trash-talk and build fights, combined with a then-undefeated 19-0 (1) record, it looked like the promotion had a major star on their hands.
In truth, even though he struggled inside the Octagon, Askren did become a major player for the promotion and a headlining act. After all, he is one of MMA's biggest personalities.
However, last July, a record-setting knockout, delivered by Jorge Masvidal, derailed the former Division I wrestler's title run. To make matters worse, a submission loss to Demian Maia last month sent 'Funky' even further down the welterweight ladder, which in turn played a major role in his decision to retire.
It's possible that the 35-year-old grappler may get the itch again and decide to blaze the comeback trail. That being said, as it stands, things didn't end on a high note.