Former UFC fighter Ben Askren will compete in a wrestling match on Saturday, marking a remarkable recovery a year after he nearly died. The bout against ex-UFC welterweight champion Belal Muhammad is organized by Real American Freestyle (RAF) and falls on Askren's 42nd birthday.

Last year, Askren "died four times" after a staph infection led to pneumonia and a double lung transplant on 28 June 2025. He spent 37 days in a coma, lost nearly a third of his bodyweight, and weighed just 63kg, unable to walk, speak, or eat.

The fight takes place in his hometown of Milwaukee, Wisconsin, on a card headlined by former UFC fighters Colby Covington and Arman Tsarukyan. Askren, who started in wrestling before MMA, had three UFC fights before retiring in 2019 and lost a boxing match to Jake Paul in 2021.

Signed by RAF in May 2025, Askren calls this a one-off. "My perception on mortality and life has been changed significantly," he said. "I get to go wrestle. That's it for me. I am so happy."