Ben Askren was basically a human wrecking ball in 2013. He was the Bellator Welterweight Champion, undefeated, and arguably the best wrestler to ever transition into Mixed Martial Arts. But behind the scenes, a microscopic organism was doing what no fighter could: it was putting "Funky" on his back. When fans ask how did ben askren get staph, they usually expect a simple answer about a dirty gym mat.
The reality? It’s way more complicated and honestly, kind of terrifying.
It wasn't just a bump. It was a systemic infection that stalled one of the most unique careers in combat sports history. Staph is the boogeyman of the wrestling world. It lives on the skin. It waits for a tiny scratch. Then, it strikes.
The Wrestling Room: A Breeding Ground for Bacteria
Wrestling rooms are gross. Let's be real. Even the highest-level Olympic training centers are essentially humid boxes filled with sweat, skin-on-skin contact, and high-intensity friction. Askren, a two-time NCAA Division I champion at Missouri and an Olympian, spent his entire life in these environments.
The mechanism of how Ben Askren got staph is rooted in the "mat burn" phenomenon. When you wrestle, your skin is constantly being abraded. Tiny micro-tears form, especially on the knees, elbows, and forehead. These are essentially open doors for Staphylococcus aureus.
Most people carry staph on their skin or in their noses without ever knowing it. It’s harmless until it gets underneath the surface. In a wrestling room, the bacteria is everywhere. If one guy has a small colony on his arm and he grinds that arm into Askren’s face during a sprawling drill, the transfer is instantaneous.
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Askren has been vocal about the hygiene standards—or lack thereof—in various gyms throughout his career. It isn't always about a "dirty" gym, though. You can bleach the mats three times a day, but if a partner has an active, asymptomatic colonization, the mats are "hot" the second practice starts.
The 2013 Outbreak and the Bellator Exit
The timeline of Askren's most famous bout with the infection coincides with his departure from Bellator. He was scheduled to defend his title, but his body was essentially failing him. This wasn't just a localized "pimple." This was a deep, aggressive infection.
The specific incident that people point to regarding how did ben askren get staph involves a period of extreme overtraining. See, staph loves a suppressed immune system. When an athlete cuts weight or overtrains to the point of exhaustion, their white blood cell count isn't exactly in fighting shape. Askren was pushing his body to the limit, and the bacteria took advantage.
He ended up with a massive infection in his leg. It wasn't just an eyesore; it was a career-threatening medical emergency. He's described the sensation as having a "hole" in his limb.
Why Staph is Different for Grapplers
- Constant Abrasion: The gi (in BJJ) or the mat (in wrestling) acts like sandpaper.
- The Heat Factor: Bacteria thrive in 90-degree rooms with 80% humidity.
- The "Tough It Out" Culture: Fighters often ignore "small" bumps until they become "large" problems.
Askren didn't just get a skin rash. He faced a situation where the infection could have turned septic. If staph hits the bloodstream, it's a wrap. You aren't worried about title defenses anymore; you're worried about organ failure.
Misconceptions About Fighter Hygiene
People love to blame the athlete. They say, "He should have showered sooner," or "He should have used Defense Soap." While those things help, they aren't a magic shield.
When we look at how did ben askren get staph, we have to acknowledge the role of MRSA (Methicillin-resistant Staphylococcus aureus). This is the "superbug" version. It doesn't care about standard antibiotics. Askren has mentioned the difficulty of treating these infections because the standard stuff—the stuff you'd get for a basic throat infection—doesn't always work on gym-bred bacteria.
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Fighters are often on "cycles" of antibiotics. This is a massive problem in the MMA community. Taking antibiotics as a preventative measure or stopping a course early leads to resistant strains. Askren, like many elite grapplers, was likely exposed to these resistant strains in world-class rooms where everyone is constantly battling some form of skin funk.
The Impact on His Legacy and Performance
Did the staph infection change Ben Askren as a fighter? Probably.
Dealing with a major infection causes significant scarring and tissue damage. More importantly, it impacts your gas tank. Your body spends so much energy fighting the internal war that your external performance dips.
During his transition from Bellator to ONE Championship, Askren had to manage his health more strictly. The "Funky" style of wrestling—which involves a lot of scrambling and unconventional positions—requires immense flexibility and skin-to-mat contact. It’s the highest-risk style for skin infections.
The Anatomy of an Infection
If you want to understand the "how" behind the infection, look at the biology.
- The Entry: A small scrape from a wrestling shoe or a mat burn on the elbow.
- The Colonization: Staph aureus enters the dermis.
- The Inflammation: The body sends white blood cells. This creates the "boil" or "abscess" Askren described.
- The Progression: If untreated, the bacteria produce toxins that eat away at the surrounding tissue.
Askren's case was particularly gnarly because of where it was located. In the groin or thigh area, the skin is thinner, and the lymph nodes are close by. This makes it easier for the infection to spread through the lymphatic system.
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Hard Truths from the Mats
Honestly, Askren is lucky. We've seen fighters like Kevin Randleman nearly die from staph. We saw Robert Whittaker pull out of major fights because of it.
Askren's openness about his skin issues actually helped the MMA community. Before him, many fighters hid it. They'd cover it with tape (which actually makes it worse by trapping the heat and moisture) and keep rolling. Askren talked about it. He made it a "thing" that people needed to take seriously.
Gyms today are much better because of the horror stories shared by guys like him. We now see widespread use of antifungal and antibacterial foams. We see "no shoes on the mat" policies being enforced with religious fervor.
How to Avoid the Askren Fate
If you're training, you have to be smarter than the bacteria. It's not just about showering; it's about timing. Research suggests that if you don't shower within 30 minutes of leaving the mat, your risk of infection skyrockets. The bacteria have time to "settle in."
Practical steps for any athlete:
- Inspect your skin daily. If a pimple looks "angry" or feels hot to the touch, stop training immediately.
- Use a liquid skin barrier. Products that create a temporary seal over scrapes can prevent entry.
- Wash your gear every single time. Your kneepads are a petri dish. If you leave them in your gym bag overnight, you're basically breeding a bioweapon.
- Demand mat hygiene. If your coach doesn't mop with a high-grade disinfectant (like MuC-Off or bleach solutions) after every session, find a new gym.
Ben Askren’s battle with staph was a byproduct of a life spent in the trenches of elite wrestling. It wasn't a fluke; it was a statistical probability given the thousands of hours he spent on the mat. While he eventually overcame it and went on to have a legendary (and polarizing) career, the "staph era" remains a cautionary tale for anyone stepping onto a wrestling mat.
The lesson is simple: the toughest guy in the room can still be taken down by something you can't even see. Don't ignore the "pimple." It might just be an apex predator waiting to end your season.
Next Steps for Training Safety
To protect yourself and your training partners, implement a "skin check" protocol before every live sparring session. Keep a bottle of 70% isopropyl alcohol or specialized antiseptic wipes in your gym bag to immediately treat any new scratches or "mat burns" sustained during practice. If you notice a lesion that is painful, swollen, or radiating heat, consult a medical professional immediately and do not return to the mats until you have been cleared and have completed a full course of prescribed antibiotics.