He nearly died a year ago. Now Ben Askren gets one more chance to wrestle
Former UFC fighter Ben Askren returned to the wrestling mat for a final match at RAF 11 after surviving a near-death experience.
📍 The outcome
Ben Askren returned to wrestling for a final match at RAF 11 against Belal Muhammad following a lung transplant. Askren lost the match and subsequently confirmed his retirement.
Epilogue added 43d ago, after coverage quieted.
Who reported it (9)
- RAF 11 live blog: Ben Askren vs. Belal Muhammad MMA Fighting · 46d ago
- Ben Askren makes 1-match return to wrestling after nearly dying Yahoo · 46d ago
- Former UFC fighter Ben Askren loses in wrestling return before confirming retirement BBC · 46d ago
- Video: Emotional Ben Askren retires after odds-defying RAF 11 match MMA Junkie · 46d ago
- Ben Askren returns to sold-out hometown crowd for final wrestling match TMJ4 News · 46d ago
- Ben Askren set for wrestling match a year after almost dying BBC · 46d ago
- RAF 11 Results: Belal Muhammad outworks Ben Askren in Askren’s final match MMA Fighting · 46d ago
- Askren returns to mat after '25 lung transplant, loses at RAF 11 ESPN · 46d ago
- He nearly died a year ago. Now Ben Askren gets one more chance to wrestle Milwaukee Journal Sentinel · 46d ago broke it first
The brief
Ben Askren competed in a one-match return to wrestling at RAF 11 against Belal Muhammad. The match took place before a sold-out hometown crowd.
Coverage from the BBC, MMA Fighting, and ESPN emphasizes that Muhammad outworked Askren, resulting in a loss for the former UFC fighter. MMA Junkie described the post-match scene as emotional, while the Milwaukee Journal Sentinel highlighted the significance of Askren getting one last chance to compete.
Askren has now confirmed his retirement following the match results. Coverage does not specify further upcoming events for either athlete.
Synthesized by Newsylist from the headlines below under a strict no-invention contract. ✓ fact-checked: unsupported claims removed (86% supported) Updated 43d ago.
Quick answers
Who did Ben Askren fight in his return match?
Ben Askren wrestled against Belal Muhammad at RAF 11.
Why was Askren's return considered odds-defying?
According to ESPN, Askren underwent a lung transplant in 2025 after nearly dying a year prior.
What was the outcome of the match and Askren's career?
Belal Muhammad won the match, and Ben Askren subsequently confirmed his retirement.
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