Former Ultimate Fighting Championship (UFC) fighter and two-time NCAA Division I national champion Ben Askren is returning to the wrestling mats this weekend (Sat., July 18, 2026) against former UFC Welterweight champion Belal Muhammad at RAF 11, which goes down inside UWM Panther Arena in Milwaukee, Wisconsin.
RAF released a new promo ahead of Askren’s “astonishing return” to wrestling, and, yeah, it is pretty hard not to get emotional watching it.
“Funky” was hospitalized a year ago with a severe case of pneumonia that developed as a result of a staph infection. Askren later revealed that he nearly died four times before eventually receiving a double lung transplant surgery that ultimately saved his life — however, literally less than a year ago, he was still in the hospital.
Less than one year ago, Askren was still in a hospital bed fighting for his life.
Now, he is preparing to wrestle in front of his home-state crowd in Milwaukee.
That is legitimately insane.
But considering everything he has been through, even making the walk is a victory.
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