Ben Askren set for wrestling match a year after almost dying

Former UFC fighter Ben Askren is set to complete a remarkable recovery by competing in a wrestling match on Saturday – a year after he almost died.

The bout against ex-UFC welterweight champion Belal Muhammad has been organised by Real American Freestyle (RAF) and will take place on Askren’s 42nd birthday.

Askren said he “died four times” last year after contracting a staph infection, external which developed into pneumonia and meant he had to have a double lung transplant on 28 June 2025.

This time last year Askren had been in a coma for 37 days, had lost nearly a third of his bodyweight and weighed 63kg.

He could not walk, speak or eat and said he had to “start over”. He documented his recovery on social media.

Askren said the fight, which takes place in his home town of Milwaukee, Wisconsin, is “surreal”.

“A year ago today I was begging the nurses to let me go home for my birthday because I had been stuck in a hospital room for 50 or so days,” he said.

“They refused to let me go home because I couldn’t stand up or go to the bathroom under my own power.”

The bout is on a card headlined by Colby Covington and Arman Tsarukyan, who are also former UFC fighters.

Askren started out in wrestling before switching to MMA. He had three UFC fights before retiring in 2019.

He lost a boxing fight with Jake Paul in 2021 and was the first wrestler signed by RAF in May 2025, before being sidelined.

Askren said the Muhammad fight will be a one-off.

“When RAF told me they were coming to Milwaukee on 18 July, which is my birthday and my home town, something spoke to me and said I need to wrestle,” Askren said.

“My perception on mortality and life has been changed significantly from the events in the last year.

“I know this is some of these guys’ lives and they’re worried about winning and losing tomorrow.

“I get to go wrestle. That’s it for me. I am so happy.”