Former mixed martial arts champion and Olympic wrestler Ben AskrenPlayer·Ben Askren is poised for a remarkable comeback to the wrestling mat, scheduled to compete against Ultimate Fighting ChampionshipCompetition·Ultimate Fighting Championship (UFC) contender Belal MuhammadPlayer·Belal Muhammad. The highly anticipated freestyle wrestling match will headline the Real American FreestyleCompetition·Real American Freestyle (RAF) 11 event on July 18, 2026, at the Panther ArenaVenue·Panther Arena in Milwaukee, Wisconsin, a date that notably coincides with Askren's 42nd birthday.
This return marks a significant milestone in Askren's life, coming just over a year after he underwent a double lung transplant in June 2025. His health crisis began with a severe battle against pneumonia and a subsequent staph infection, which led to a prolonged hospitalization. During this critical period, Askren's heart stopped on four separate occasions, and he experienced substantial weight loss. Following his discharge in July 2025, he embarked on an arduous recovery journey, which included the fundamental challenge of learning to walk again.
The prospect of Askren's return to competitive sports was met with cautious optimism by medical professionals. Dr. Brian Sutterer, a specialist in sports medicine, expressed in October 2025 that a return to wrestling could be feasible if objective assessments confirmed adequate lung and heart function. However, Dr. Sutterer also highlighted the considerable risks associated with a potential return to more high-impact disciplines such as MMA or boxing.
Askren himself confirmed his intentions on "The Ariel Helwani Show," stating simply, "Well, I'm going to wrestle." He was among the initial athletes signed to Real American FreestyleCompetition·Real American Freestyle in May 2025, prior to the onset of his severe health issues. Askren has been actively involved in coaching and training for approximately three months, a period that preceded his request for a spot on the upcoming Milwaukee card. While committed to this event, he has clarified that he does not intend to pursue a prolonged competitive career, instead planning to refocus his efforts on coaching and contributing to the growth and development of the Real American FreestyleCompetition·Real American Freestyle organization.
His opponent, Belal MuhammadPlayer·Belal Muhammad, will be making his second appearance for Real American FreestyleCompetition·Real American Freestyle. Muhammad will be seeking his inaugural victory within the promotion, having previously suffered a technical fall loss to David CarrPlayer·David Carr at RAF 4 last December. Muhammad is also slated to compete in the octagon this Saturday against Gabriel BonfimPlayer·Gabriel Bonfim in the main event of UFC Vegas 118Competition·UFC Vegas 118, where he aims to break a two-fight losing streak in his professional MMA career.
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