Ben Askren is set to compete in a wrestling match on Saturday, and the timing makes it an unusual comeback story even by combat sports standards. Askren will wrestle Belal Muhammad on his 42nd birthday, nearly a year after he says he nearly died and later underwent a double lung transplant.
A return that seemed unlikely a year ago
This time last year, Askren had been in a coma for 37 days and weighed 63kg. He documented his recovery on social media, and he has said the experience changed how he views life and mortality. Askren described the past year as “surreal” and said his perception on mortality and life has been changed significantly from the events in the last year.
He also said, “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,” adding that the nurses refused because he “couldn't stand up or go to the bathroom under my own power.” Askren has also said he “died four times.”
How Askren got back to the mat
Askren started out in wrestling before switching to MMA, where he had three UFC fights before retiring in 2019. He later lost a boxing fight with Jake Paul in 2021. Since his lung transplant on 28 June 2025, Askren has been working as an ambassador, commentator and matchmaker for Real American Freestyle.
That connection helped lead to this weekend's match. Askren said, “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,” before adding, “I get to go wrestle. That's it for me. I am so happy.”
Why this matters now
Real American Freestyle was first tied to Askren in May 2025, when he became the first wrestler signed by the company. The event coming to Milwaukee on 18 July adds another layer to the story, since it brings the promotion to his hometown on his birthday. Askren also noted, “I know this is some of these guys' lives and they're worried about winning and losing tomorrow.”
For Askren, the bigger point is the simple fact that he is wrestling at all after a coma, major weight loss and a double lung transplant. Even in a sport built around comebacks, this one stands out for both its medical scale and its emotional weight.
