Missouri alum Ben Askren, Tyron Woodley featured in Tigers With Titles dual vs. Oklahoma State on Jan. 27
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by Andrew B. Melroe, Missouri
Photo of Missouri alum Ben Askren courtesy of MUTigers.com
COLUMBIA, Mo. – Prior to Mizzou Wrestling’s dual with Oklahoma State on Friday, Jan. 27, Mizzou Athletics will host “Tigers with Titles” at 5 p.m. CT at the Hearnes Center. Mizzou Wrestling alums – and current champions in their respective professional fighting leagues – Ben Askren and Tyron Woodley will return to Columbia for an open to the public event.
Mizzou fans will get the opportunity to hear how Mizzou molded and prepared Askren and Woodley for the success they have achieved since leaving Columbia, as well as a chance to ask the champions questions in a Q&A session. A ticket to Friday evening’s dual will get you into the door, with the first 300 to receive a free “Tigers with Titles” promotional poster featuring Askren, Woodley and Bellator Lightweight Champion Michael Chandler. The ticket office will open at 4 p.m., with doors scheduled to be opened at 4:30 p.m. Fans are encouraged to enter on the east side of the Hearnes Center.
Askren wrestled for Mizzou from 2003-07 and is one of two wrestlers in program history to win two NCAA National Championships. The Tiger legend owns the most wins of any wrestler in program history, going 153-8 over his career while capturing two Dan Hodge Trophies en route to the 2006 and 2007 NCAA titles. He still holds the program record for most career falls with 91, 44 more than the next most falls in program history. Following his outstanding career at Mizzou, Askren went on to make the 2008 United States Olympic men’s freestyle wrestling team before transitioning to the world of mixed martial arts. Askren started in Bellator, where he won the Welterweight Championship and is currently in ONE Championship, where he is the reigning Welterweight Champion.
Woodley wrestled for Mizzou from 2001-05, earning All-America honors in 2003 and 2005. Woodley, the first Big 12 Conference Champion in program history (2003) went 110-38 as a Tiger and ranks third in program history in major decisions with 28. Woodley began his mixed martial arts career with Strikeforce before signing with Ultimate Fight Championship (UFC) in 2013. Woodley’s ascension to the top of the UFC culminated by winning the UFC Welterweight Championship on July 30 with a knockout victory over Robbie Lawler. His first successful title defense came on Nov. 12, 2016, where he defeated Stephen Thompson. Woodley and Thompson will fight again for the belt on March 4, at UFC 209.
A media availability with the two champions will happen prior to the event from 4:15-4:45 p.m. on the event level of the Hearnes Center.
Following the event, No. 8 Mizzou will face off against No. 1 Oklahoma State in a top-10 dual with NWCA National Dual Series implications on the line. Wrestling from the Hearnes Center is scheduled to begin at 7 p.m. CT.
COLUMBIA, Mo. – Prior to Mizzou Wrestling’s dual with Oklahoma State on Friday, Jan. 27, Mizzou Athletics will host “Tigers with Titles” at 5 p.m. CT at the Hearnes Center. Mizzou Wrestling alums – and current champions in their respective professional fighting leagues – Ben Askren and Tyron Woodley will return to Columbia for an open to the public event.
Mizzou fans will get the opportunity to hear how Mizzou molded and prepared Askren and Woodley for the success they have achieved since leaving Columbia, as well as a chance to ask the champions questions in a Q&A session. A ticket to Friday evening’s dual will get you into the door, with the first 300 to receive a free “Tigers with Titles” promotional poster featuring Askren, Woodley and Bellator Lightweight Champion Michael Chandler. The ticket office will open at 4 p.m., with doors scheduled to be opened at 4:30 p.m. Fans are encouraged to enter on the east side of the Hearnes Center.
Askren wrestled for Mizzou from 2003-07 and is one of two wrestlers in program history to win two NCAA National Championships. The Tiger legend owns the most wins of any wrestler in program history, going 153-8 over his career while capturing two Dan Hodge Trophies en route to the 2006 and 2007 NCAA titles. He still holds the program record for most career falls with 91, 44 more than the next most falls in program history. Following his outstanding career at Mizzou, Askren went on to make the 2008 United States Olympic men’s freestyle wrestling team before transitioning to the world of mixed martial arts. Askren started in Bellator, where he won the Welterweight Championship and is currently in ONE Championship, where he is the reigning Welterweight Champion.
Woodley wrestled for Mizzou from 2001-05, earning All-America honors in 2003 and 2005. Woodley, the first Big 12 Conference Champion in program history (2003) went 110-38 as a Tiger and ranks third in program history in major decisions with 28. Woodley began his mixed martial arts career with Strikeforce before signing with Ultimate Fight Championship (UFC) in 2013. Woodley’s ascension to the top of the UFC culminated by winning the UFC Welterweight Championship on July 30 with a knockout victory over Robbie Lawler. His first successful title defense came on Nov. 12, 2016, where he defeated Stephen Thompson. Woodley and Thompson will fight again for the belt on March 4, at UFC 209.
A media availability with the two champions will happen prior to the event from 4:15-4:45 p.m. on the event level of the Hearnes Center.
Following the event, No. 8 Mizzou will face off against No. 1 Oklahoma State in a top-10 dual with NWCA National Dual Series implications on the line. Wrestling from the Hearnes Center is scheduled to begin at 7 p.m. CT.
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