Ben Askren set for first combat sports appearance since near-death experience

Ben Askren, the legendary wrestler and former UFC fighter, is making his return to competitive combat sports this summer following a harrowing health crisis that nearly claimed his life.

Askren will face Belal Muhammad in a wrestling bout at Real American Freestyle 11 on July 18 in Milwaukee, Wisconsin. The event marks Askren's first competitive appearance since his hospitalization last May, when he contracted pneumonia and required placement on a ventilator. Askren underwent a double lung transplant and has spent the past year on a gradual recovery path.

Announcing the news on The Ariel Helwani Show, Askren explained that the date holds personal significance—July 18 is his birthday. "I thought something spoke to me and said I need to wrestle on that," he said. Already back coaching wrestling practices for the past three months, Askren has been training diligently to prepare, though he noted he is taking measured steps rather than returning to full intensity immediately.

Askren initially lost approximately 50 pounds during his illness and recovery but has since stabilized. His doctor approved a cautious return to wrestling with appropriate precautions. "I want to go back to my life. I want to go back to doing what I love," Askren explained.

A two-time NCAA national champion from the University of Missouri and 2008 Olympian, Askren later built prominence through stints in Bellator, ONE Championship, and the UFC before retiring from mixed martial arts in 2019. Muhammad, his opponent in Milwaukee, is a former UFC welterweight champion who made his RAF debut in December, losing to David Carr via technical fall. Muhammad is currently scheduled to face Gabriel Bonfim at UFC Fight Night 278 in Las Vegas.