Former UFC fighter and two-time NCAA champion Ben Askren announced his retirement from competitive wrestling on Saturday after dropping a comeback match to former UFC welterweight champion Belal Muhammad at the UW-Milwaukee Panther Arena.
The event, put together by Real American Freestyle, was a deeply personal milestone for Askren, who had faced a life-threatening bout with pneumonia last year that required a double lung transplant. He has spoken previously about spending roughly 40 days in a coma and losing a significant amount of weight during the long road to recovery.
Despite still dealing with physical setbacks from his illness, the 2008 Olympian stepped back onto the mat on his 42nd birthday, having stated in advance that it would be his final competitive appearance.
Askren came out strong, building a 3-0 lead through aggressive pressure and sharp defense. However, his body began to wear down as the match wore on, and Muhammad rallied to claim a 6-3 victory.
After the loss, Askren left his wrestling shoes on the mat — a symbolic gesture marking the end of his career.
“My legs gave out, they wouldn’t carry me any longer,” Askren said. “For sure it’s my last time on the mat. I couldn’t find a better place to do this. I worked hard over the last year. It was tough.”
“Every day I woke up and thanked God for the chance to do it just one more time,” he added.
Askren had previously stepped away from mixed martial arts in 2019 following a brief run in the UFC.
