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By: Jamie Penick, MMATorch Editor-in-Chief
"I told you guys it was just a matter of time before my hands started getting a little power in them."
-Ben Askren, January 24, 2013
Ben Askren's run of dominance in the Bellator cage reached new heights on Thursday night, as he absolutely demolished Karl Amoussou to retain his Bellator Welterweight Championship for the third time.
The undefeated former Olympian had gotten a reputation as a "lay and pray" fighter, as his admittedly dominant wrestling had helped him win all ten of his career fights into Thursday's Bellator 86 event. However, he added another layer to his game against Amoussou, delivering a brutal beating with his ground and pound.
It began in the first when Amoussou tripped and allowed Askren to get on top. Askren started the damage from the guard and controlled the round as he had done fight after fight prior to Thursday. But his pace picked up in the second, as he gained positional control again after Amoussou went for a heel hook that didn't finish the fight. Askren opened him up with elbows and punches, out-striking Amoussou in the round by a mark of 76-14.
That beating only continued in the third round, and Amoussou barely survived to the end of the round after getting mounted late and taking further punishment. Askren's offense left Amoussou's face bloody, bruised, and swollen, and doctors were forced to stop the fight before the start of the fourth.
It was Askren's first stoppage win since his Bellator debut, though that "submission" win was marred by an early stoppage that led to an immediate rematch. This was a dominant, clear cut statement that he has improved to another level, and after the fight, he had one message for the rest of the 170 lb. field.
"If you're a welterweight anywhere in the world, you better watch out, I'm coming."
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Jamie Penick, editor-in-chief
(mmatorcheditor@gmail.com)
STAFF COLUMNISTS: Shawn Ennis - Jason Amadi
Frank Hyden - Rich Hansen
Chris Park - Matt Pelkey
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