Ben Askren‘s odds-defying to return to wrestling also marks the final time he’ll compete on the mats.
A little over one year from when he died and was resuscitated, Askren did the unthinkable and competed in a high-level wrestling match Saturday at RAF 11. He came up short, 6-3, against former teammate and ex-UFC welterweight champion Belal Muhammad, but Askren was overjoyed with the experience even in defeat.
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From entrance to exit, Askren was showered with love from fans, friends and family in attendance in his home region. The event took place at UW-Milwaukee Panther Arena in Milwaukee.
“My lungs hurt but the things that failed me were my legs,” Askren said during his post-match interview. “They give out. In the third period, my legs … wouldn’t carry me any longer. … It’s for sure my last time on the mat. … I love you guys. I really do. … I couldn’t find a better place to do this. I worked as hard as sh*t in the last year. It was tough. There was tough where I couldn’t feed myself. I couldn’t stand up. I couldn’t go to the bathroom. Every single day I woke up and thanked God for the chance to do it one more time. I promised God, ‘I’m going to make the most of this day.’ I’m going to treat people well. I’m going to work my ass off and I’m going to try to make a difference in the world. I love you guys.”
Askren, 42, found himself on his deathbed in June 2025 after contracting a staph infection that turned into a serious case of pneumonia. He was put in an induced coma and underwent a double lung transplant. Askren had already previously retired from mixed martial arts competition, and Saturday laid his wrestling shoes center mat – a wrestler’s official farewell.
This article originally appeared on MMA Junkie: Video: Emotional Ben Askren retires after odds-defying RAF 11 match
