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

Former UFC fighter Ben Askren has returned to the wrestling mat for a single final match at the event known as RAF 11. This return took place before a sold-out hometown crowd, as detailed by TMJ4 News and the Milwaukee Journal Sentinel. The match saw Askren face off against Belal Muhammad. According to reports from MMA Fighting, Muhammad outworked Askren during the bout. Following the loss, Askren officially confirmed his retirement from the sport. This final appearance was framed as an odds-defying effort by MMA Junkie, which shared video of an emotional Askren retiring after the contest concluded. Major media outlets including the BBC, Yahoo, and ESPN have emphasized the severe medical challenges Askren overcame to compete.

People.com provided an exclusive report stating that Askren had experienced a lengthy hospitalization due to pneumonia, which the publication described as deathly. ESPN specifically reported that Askren's return to the mat followed a '25 lung transplant. These health struggles occurred approximately one year prior to this match. Coverage from Greater Milwaukee Today and the Milwaukee Journal Sentinel highlighted the significance of Askren returning to his hometown for this specific one-match engagement. The context of this event is rooted in a critical health crisis that occurred a year ago. The coverage indicates that Askren nearly died during that period, necessitating a lung transplant and extensive hospital care. Because of the severity of the pneumonia and the subsequent surgical intervention, his return to a high-intensity combat sport like wrestling was presented as a significant personal milestone.

The stakes of the RAF 11 match were centered less on the victory and more on the fact that Askren was physically capable of competing again after such a life-threatening illness. Observers are now focused on the finality of Askren's departure from competitive wrestling. The BBC and MMA Junkie have confirmed that Askren has officially retired following the result of the match against Belal Muhammad. There are no indications of further competitive appearances. Future coverage will likely center on the emotional aftermath of the RAF 11 event and the legacy of Askren's career following his transition into retirement. All reports indicate that this specific appearance was intended to be his final chance to wrestle before stepping away from the sport permanently.