Ben Askren Retires Loss to Belal Muhammad in Milwaukee

Former UFC fighter and Olympic wrestler Ben Askren ended his competitive career with a wrestling match in his hometown of Milwaukee on Saturday, July 18, 2026, just over a year after a life-threatening illness required a double lung transplant. The 42-year-old lost the bout to former UFC welterweight champion Belal Muhammad by a score of 6-3 at the UW-Milwaukee Panther Arena, an event organized by Real American Freestyle that coincided with Askren's birthday.

The match served as a final, emotional comeback for Askren, who nearly died in the summer of 2025. He contracted a severe staph infection that developed into necrotizing pneumonia, leading to a critical hospitalization. During the ordeal, he was placed in a medically induced coma for approximately 40 days, lost nearly 50 pounds, and, according to reports, flatlined four times during the lifesaving surgery. His recovery was long and arduous, with Askren stating there were times he could not feed himself, stand up, or use the bathroom independently.

Despite these lingering physical limitations, Askren started the match strong, building a lead in the early periods. Observers noted he began to fatigue noticeably in the final...