Ben Askren officially concluded his athletic career with a 6-3 points loss to fellow former UFC competitor Belal Muhammad. The wrestling match, held in his hometown of Milwaukee on his 42nd birthday, served as a symbolic final appearance following a harrowing year of health struggles. Askren, who previously suffered a boxing defeat to Jake Paul in 2021, nearly lost his life last year due to severe pneumonia complications. His ordeal included a coma lasting 37 days, a double lung transplant, and significant weight loss that left him at just 63kg.
Despite these physical hurdles, Askren returned to the mat for a one-off exhibition organized by Real American Freestyle. Although he maintained a defensive strategy, he visibly struggled during the third period, noting that his legs could no longer support him. Reflecting on his journey from being unable to perform basic daily tasks to competing again, Askren confirmed his retirement from professional wrestling. Belal Muhammad paid tribute to Askren’s resilience, calling him a legend for his recovery.
In other combat sports action, British fighter Christian Leroy Duncan secured his fifth consecutive UFC victory by defeating Jared Cannonier in Oklahoma City. Conversely, Lewis McGrillen saw his four-fight winning streak snapped after being submitted by Rafael do Nascimento in Austin. Additionally, Ireland’s Caolan Loughran faced a narrow defeat against Julio Arce in a competitive PFL bout, bringing his record to 11-4.
