# He nearly died a year ago. Now Ben Askren gets one more chance to wrestle

> **Newsylist Open Intelligence Dossier** · First detected: 2026-07-19 05:29 UTC · Category: Sports · Sources: 7 · Current Velocity: 5.95

## Executive Summary
Former UFC fighter Ben Askren returned to the wrestling mat for a final match at RAF 11 after surviving a near-death experience.

## Intelligence 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.

## Verified Facts & Key Claims
### 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.

## Key People, Organizations & Locations
RAF, Former UFC, Belal Muhammad, Ben Askren, Now Ben Askren, Results Belal Muhammad, Askren, Video Emotional Ben Askren

## Multi-Source Evidence Table
| Source Outlet | Headline | Published (UTC) | Verification URL |
|---|---|---|---|
| MMA Fighting | RAF 11 live blog: Ben Askren vs. Belal Muhammad | 2026-07-18 10:16 | [Source Link](https://news.google.com/rss/articles/CBMilwFBVV95cUxOeXU4RjI5RnZTTXppejd4c2NCNFNuYi0wUkQ5YUlhZFk5UnJrX3lxYWlfbldSOEQtQXpNWEhuUlFFMmxqUk9jNnRZZmNXTmFvV0pBdWtpck4xX2V3ckVBYnE5c0k4TUs4c2lhQTJnMWd0SjN3ZWUyWUt3MW4ybEhpVldSUnVUNEVWak4tWkdSTlAyUGlTdWFv?oc=5) |
| Yahoo | Ben Askren makes 1-match return to wrestling after nearly dying | 2026-07-18 10:16 | [Source Link](https://news.google.com/rss/articles/CBMigwFBVV95cUxOUWVITWhTLXZvV1doSHVHNkxGQXJDNTdCdXNWVElTNEdLUng0bmNHZHd4X3d0SEhqLTlnd2ZvX2hjNmVncUVUSnkwU1g0VjRnMkxPendSdDNVc2xmTUdaUXhHZkI0d3Bib0FlV3VKWVJiRGtONkJ3NzFiZktRUFIyZ2lJMA?oc=5) |
| BBC | Former UFC fighter Ben Askren loses in wrestling return before confirming retirement | 2026-07-18 10:16 | [Source Link](https://news.google.com/rss/articles/CBMiW0FVX3lxTE5jSmlta3ZZc092bk1YWElvOVR3b2lOTkcxc0E3azZWOEJTRHNLSmtwSUFpSGtBRFZuZkF3SEFLY19oRTRzVXpwbVppd0JQOGlKOGhnOF9ydm9Td2M?oc=5) |
| MMA Junkie | Video: Emotional Ben Askren retires after odds-defying RAF 11 match | 2026-07-18 10:16 | [Source Link](https://news.google.com/rss/articles/CBMixAFBVV95cUxPUjAyY2dmZVFfWVpxR2pXSWxObXB5SkFHek5DMThoZ2k2WldTWUpmTC1XaXR4NTNVbGE5UGlCRTl1NVJOcnBpbVhYblk3MWZNZ2tZVUtiR0J4LUNmTGZfempUd1V0dW5kemREbkpFeW5lWXJOXzJidVdNZVByRWFaekppbEhqUGVSUUUxZTJRUm5hQTYxd1F1NWtSb1dFejNoQW9kQ014OEgzWHRQNnI4ZE9WTzhTSFcxZ2lXSHdWX2s5SW1o?oc=5) |
| TMJ4 News | Ben Askren returns to sold-out hometown crowd for final wrestling match | 2026-07-18 10:16 | [Source Link](https://news.google.com/rss/articles/CBMi2wFBVV95cUxPRXprdzVBZ1VCTzJKSG95Z3pDejJQemdEQXRXQUZlMVR2d3NmOTFIWnk3Mjd6NzBLdUVoU0JkSVJJV1RxUkd5c0lfVkMwdXAxMC1COHZob1MzNG5ieFNWT1U0cnliMnE4Skw5RTFRcnI4NFhHbVg1RUVkTkxidlFIUE5SN2x5RXhJN1hKZXc2dHFqa0Y5bjJjXzRUYlRtUXNqQW9qS093M2U3cUxyRnVJR2hJRXVQT0YzQnpISUtQQzNyN2l6XzgzZUVkMTY4ZWkzQ2YyaGJoel9wcXc?oc=5) |
| BBC | Ben Askren set for wrestling match a year after almost dying | 2026-07-18 10:16 | [Source Link](https://news.google.com/rss/articles/CBMiW0FVX3lxTE45Q3Z6V2RVWjBneEt3VXp4cnhsVERibnowNEtyVXZnTnJ1c2lYWDJocTQyaTFPMHBxR0VydTlsVUd3NnJfbGZzbEVUaUh3OGc5R3VZbXhDRTVRcHc?oc=5) |
| MMA Fighting | RAF 11 Results: Belal Muhammad outworks Ben Askren in Askren’s final match | 2026-07-18 10:16 | [Source Link](https://news.google.com/rss/articles/CBMiuwFBVV95cUxQR0QyUUJBa1p0S3hTRHFDRXYzMHBPMFVKaUV5eVVIQWdJT2xXZmZqVnQwQVp3VjBpUkhwRlA0MTlCdzZDVWZxQnEtdEhvX0VTRXotWDBCWnRER0lvVnppX3gwNGdnTWhPVmt5TUNFVTdHM3g3dTJWdWttdmwzSWR0QkR4TEk3SXVvWVhSaUcyY3BmM2ROdHVNNEtDZkZuY3Nfakphc1pQaUFGQzJ0VUZZS3FkMXNPbEZBRm4w?oc=5) |
| ESPN | Askren returns to mat after '25 lung transplant, loses at RAF 11 | 2026-07-18 10:16 | [Source Link](https://news.google.com/rss/articles/CBMimwFBVV95cUxNYU9EaXhvdjNaQTFLSWNOYXNTTnV4ellRZ0t5WHBSN1V4TFVzWlFWOXB1M0o1WnlqcmJ2YjFkNTBzR3Bqdk40ZmdsclBtY2RQSzFaNndMU3B5ZUhlQWVmZWcwcUEyV1ZaNGFOLWc3c1hzeDlhcUUzaFVMMlRYQU95NDN1XzJ4QVVGUDdPcUkwdlVrZHh6Z3ZkWllsdw?oc=5) |
| Milwaukee Journal Sentinel | He nearly died a year ago. Now Ben Askren gets one more chance to wrestle | 2026-07-18 10:16 | [Source Link](https://news.google.com/rss/articles/CBMi6AFBVV95cUxNSzdFMjJvUnNHb2lIQXhudGlfQ19zMFJfMXFPVVhhMGZMX3NYc0hvaFN2NFdzWV9OenYzdHdhcHUtblhveGxmNGdyNXBMdEhKTkotemplTjZEVU4wdXdnUU9MVjl6YXg0X3hYM2txR2tlbVRlZU5Ec3UtSHpwcmtsaDRpYjhJRV9wbjdHR2xvSXNoanNTSWpNMG1BWEREa1h2VjdkQWtzbVlVQUNqQUMyVzd1bXR1Y0ZpamZnVXBzenJuUnc5S0RHVUIzRlpOMGZUeTBJVmtSS0dIOEtVMjQ1YmEyYkZFcGE4?oc=5) |

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