Ben Askren Calls Nate Diaz Average on Podcast

Ben Askren, a former UFC fighter and wrestling standout, sparked debate in the mixed martial arts community by calling Nate Diaz an average competitor who built his reputation more on charisma than elite skill during a recent podcast appearance.

On the latest episode of "Funky and the Champ," hosted by Askren and fellow UFC Hall of Famer Daniel Cormier, Askren questioned Diaz's status among the sport's top talents. "Nate Diaz, I don't even think he's that good, but he has convinced people he's good at fighting somehow, some way," Askren said. "He was average." To support his view, Askren pointed to Diaz's professional record of 21-13 overall and 16-12 inside the UFC octagon. "That's not that great," he added, noting that Diaz entered the promotion with a 5-1 mark, making his UFC performance 16-12. Askren urged Cormier not to share the segment as a standalone clip online, citing the risk of backlash from Diaz's devoted followers, whom he dubbed the "Diaz Army." "His fans are rabid," Askren said with a laugh. "If you say something bad about them, they'll come at you."

Cormier initially pushed back, defending Diaz as a strong performer for his era and highlighting his victory in...