Ben Askren officially closed out his competitive career Saturday, taking a points loss in an emotional wrestling match against former UFC fighter Belal Muhammad. Sure, the score was 6-3 Muhammad, but honestly, that hardly scratches the surface of what Askren overcame just to step back onto the mat at all. This wasn’t some routine fight, not by a long shot.
The Most Incredible Comeback You’ll Hear About
Just a year ago, Askren was staring down death’s door, battling pneumonia so severe he needed a double lung transplant. We’re talking about a man who said he “died four times” and was in a coma for 37 days. Thirty-seven days, people! He lost nearly a third of his bodyweight, dropping to 63kg. His body was wrecked. But somehow, after all that, the dude decided he had one more fight in him. He made a one-off return on his 42nd birthday in his hometown of Milwaukee, Wisconsin, organized by Real American Freestyle. It’s truly inspiring stuff, showing what sheer will can achieve.
A Legend’s Emotional Farewell
The fight itself saw Askren put on a mainly defensive performance, and you could tell during the third and final period that his legs were giving out. He admitted it himself: “My legs gave out, they wouldn’t carry me any longer.” He knew this was it. “For sure it’s my last time on the mat. I couldn’t find a better place to do this.” Askren, who had three UFC fights in 2019 and a boxing loss to Jake Paul in 2021, stuck to his word. He spoke about the brutal recovery: “I worked hard over the last year. It was tough. There were times I couldn’t feed myself, I couldn’t stand up or go to the bathroom.” His opponent, Belal Muhammad, who snagged the UFC welterweight title in 2024 by beating Leon Edwards, perfectly summed it up for the 38-year-old Askren: “He came back from death, this guy’s a legend… life is precious. Go after it bro.” That’s real talk right there.
Elsewhere in the Fight Game
While Askren was closing out his career, other fighters were making moves. Christian Leroy Duncan kept his UFC win streak alive, earning his fifth straight victory with a unanimous decision over Jared Cannonier in Oklahoma City. The 30-year-old is now 15-2 overall and feels he’s solidified his spot in the middleweight division, with “big fights ahead.” In the main event, former world champ Kamaru Usman suffered his fourth loss in five UFC fights, dominated by Dricus Du Plessis. Over in the PFL, rising star Lewis McGrillen saw his four-fight win streak end on his USA debut, beaten by Rafael do Nascimento via rear naked choke. Ireland’s Caolan Loughran also took a decision loss to Julio Arce in a tough PFL contest.
Askren’s story, though, that’s the one that will stick with you. To face what he faced, to get back in there, and to deliver such a powerful message about life? That’s what competitive sports should be about.
This article was created with AI assistance and published under Seattle On Tap’s editorial standards. See our Editorial Policy.
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