A year after nearly dying, Ben Askren is ready for a wrestling match

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 fight against former UFC welterweight champion Belal Muhammad is organized by Real American Freestyle (RAF) and will take place on Askren’s 42nd birthday.

Askren said, he is Dr “Died Four Times” After the agreement last year a Staph infection, outsider Which developed into pneumonia and meant he had to undergo a double lung transplant on 28 June 2025.

This time last year Askren had been in a coma for 37 days, losing almost a third of his body weight and 63kg.

He can’t walk, talk or eat and says he has to “start over”. He documented his recovery on social media.

Askren said the fight, which took place in his hometown of Milwaukee, Wisconsin, was “surreal.”

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

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

The fight is on a card headlined by Colby Covington and Arman Sarukian, both former UFC fighters.

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

he Jake loses a boxing match with Paul 2021 and was the first wrestler signed by the RAF in May 2025 before being sidelined.

Askren said, Muhammad’s fight will be one-sided.

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

“My perception of mortality and life has changed significantly since the events of last year.

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

“I can go wrestle. That’s it for me. I’m so happy.”