Ben Askren is preparing for an extraordinary return to competition, squaring off against ex-UFC welterweight champion Belal Muhammad on July 18, 2026, in Milwaukee. The bout represents a stunning comeback for the former UFC fighter, who will compete in freestyle wrestling for the first time since undergoing a double lung transplant a year prior.
The wrestling match carries profound personal significance for Askren, as the competition falls on his 42nd birthday. Organized by Real American Freestyle, the event marks his first competitive outing since the life-saving medical procedure that fundamentally altered his circumstances.
A Year of Recovery
The magnitude of Askren’s recovery becomes clear through his own reflection on his medical journey. “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,” Askren stated, highlighting the severity of his condition and the extended hospitalization required following his transplant.
Competitive Matchup
Muhammad brings significant credentials to the wrestling bout, having held the UFC welterweight championship during his mixed martial arts career. The pairing between two former combat sports competitors promises an intriguing clash on the mat in the United States.
The bout also connects Askren to a broader network of combat sports figures, with former UFC fighters Colby Covington and Arman Tsarukyan representing the sport’s ecosystem of elite-level competitors from recent years.
Askren’s decision to return to competitive wrestling approximately one year after his transplant demonstrates both his physical recovery and mental determination. The July 2026 date in Milwaukee will serve as a remarkable milestone in his post-transplant life, transforming a personal health crisis into an opportunity for athletic competition at an age when most fighters have long since retired from professional combat sports.