Ben Askren will step onto a wrestling mat Saturday, exactly one year after he nearly died from lung failure.
The former NCAA champion and MMA star underwent a double lung transplant in June 2025. He was hospitalized in May. He did not leave the hospital until mid-August.
Now, at age 42, he faces former UFC welterweight champion Belal Muhammad at RAF 11. The event takes place at UW-Milwaukee Panther Arena. It streams on Fox Nation.
“It’s been an improbable life comeback, never mind the competitive one,” MMA Junkie noted.
Askren’s lungs failed suddenly in May 2025. The cause was severe respiratory failure. Surgeons performed a double lung transplant in June. The prognosis was grim. He spent months in recovery.
“The near-death experience changed his perspective on life and on the sport,” Askren told the Milwaukee Journal Sentinel.
Some questioned whether he should be allowed to compete, given his dire medical history. Askren dismissed the skepticism. His rehabilitation was grueling: breathing exercises, then basic mobility, then wrestling drills.
The RAF 11 faceoff video shows Askren and Muhammad staring each other down. One year after resuscitation. The contrast is stark.
Askren’s previous MMA career included a infamous boxing match against Jake Paul. That ended in 58 seconds. This match carries different weight.
“I nearly died a year ago,” Askren said. “Now I get one more chance to wrestle.”
The Real American Freestyle league provided the platform. The match is his send-off. It falls on his 42nd birthday.
For the wrestling community, the event transcends competition. It is a symbolic battle between life and death. A survivor stepping onto the mat.
BBC Sport summarized: “Askren set for wrestling match a year after almost dying.”
The match is not about titles. It is about resilience. Askren’s legacy will be defined by this comeback, not by his UFC record or his boxing loss.
Even if this is his final match, his story endures. From deathbed to center mat. 365 days.
💡 Frequently Asked Questions (FAQ)
- Q: What happened to Ben Askren a year ago?
- A: Ben Askren suffered severe respiratory failure in May 2025 and underwent a double lung transplant in June 2025. He was hospitalized until mid-August and nearly died.
- Q: Who is Ben Askren fighting at RAF 11?
- A: He is fighting former UFC welterweight champion Belal Muhammad at the UW-Milwaukee Panther Arena, streamed on Fox Nation.
- Q: Why is this match significant?
- A: It marks exactly one year since his near-death experience, making it both a personal and competitive comeback. Askren calls it his ‘one more chance to wrestle.’
Extended Reading
Sources: Milwaukee Journal Sentinel, MMA Junkie, BBC Sport. All reports confirm Askren’s lung transplant timeline and the RAF 11 event details. The match streams live on Fox Nation on July 18, 2026.