Belal Muhammad beats Ben Askren in Askren's final match at RAF 11

Belal Muhammad outpointed Ben Askren 6-3 at RAF 11 in Milwaukee on Saturday night in what Askren confirmed would be his final wrestling match, capping a remarkable comeback from the former Olympian who required a lung transplant last year.

Askren controlled the first two periods, stuffing every offensive attempt from Muhammad and building a 3-0 lead through pushouts, per MMA Fighting's live coverage. The former two-time NCAA champion hand-fought well and showed strong fundamentals despite health complications that nearly killed him less than 12 months ago. Muhammad, a former UFC welterweight champion, appeared hesitant to press early action, whether out of respect for Askren's wrestling pedigree or deference to the comeback story itself.

Muhammad rallies in third period to claim decision

The tide turned in the final period when Askren's conditioning broke. Muhammad scored his first takedown of the match and followed with a go-behind to erase the deficit and take a 4-3 lead, MMA Fighting reported. Askren initiated several scrambles down the stretch but could not finish any attempts as fatigue set in. Muhammad added another score late to seal the 6-3 decision, though Askren's corner challenged one sequence without success.

After the bout, Muhammad asked the Milwaukee crowd to give Askren a standing ovation and called out Colby Covington by name. Askren then took the microphone and addressed his condition before removing his wrestling shoes in the traditional retirement gesture. "I get tired real fast these days," he said, according to the live blog. "I tried as hard as I could in the third period, but my legs wouldn't carry me any longer. For sure my last time on the mat, and I love you guys. I really do."

Askren suffered severe pneumonia complications in 2025 that caused him to flatline multiple times and ultimately required a lung transplant to survive. The two-time Dan Hodge Trophy winner and 2008 Olympian later fought for ONE Championship, Bellator, and the UFC before retiring from mixed martial arts. Saturday's match marked his return to competitive wrestling after a year of recovery work.

Reported via:

• MMA Fighting — RAF 11 Results: Belal Muhammad outworks Ben Askren in Askren’s final match
• MMA Fighting — RAF 11 live blog: Ben Askren vs. Belal Muhammad