SouthernWorldwide.com – Former UFC fighter and Olympic wrestler Ben Askren is set to return to the fighting arena for the first time in nearly seven years, marking a significant comeback less than a year after undergoing a double-lung transplant and spending time on life support.
Last year, Askren’s health took a critical turn. He was placed on a ventilator and ECMO (extracorporeal membrane oxygenation), a situation so dire that his wife, Amy, publicly stated he needed a “miracle.”
Fortunately, that miracle did occur, and a remarkable comeback is now on the horizon for the decorated athlete.
Askren is scheduled to face former UFC welterweight champion Belal Muhammad in a wrestling match. This bout will take place at Real American Freestyle 11 on July 18, which also happens to be Askren’s 42nd birthday. The event will be held in Milwaukee, and Real American Freestyle was co-founded by the late wrestling legend Hulk Hogan.
The health crisis began last June when Askren “developed severe pneumonia which came on very suddenly,” as reported by Amy. The condition rapidly worsened, leading to him being put on life support. He was subsequently placed on the transplant list on June 24 and received a donor organ just days later.
Askren himself has recounted the severity of his illness, stating that he has no memory of events from May 28 to July 2. He also revealed that he “only died four times” during his hospital stay, during which he lost 50 pounds. After a grueling 59 days, he was finally released from the hospital on July 22.
Upon his release, Askren expressed his profound gratitude for the outpouring of support he received. He highlighted the significance of donations to a GoFundMe campaign and the practical help his friends provided to his wife and children. Many friends traveled from across the country to offer support and companionship during his difficult time.
Askren acknowledged the immense value of this support and love, expressing his hope that he would not face such a dire situation again for a long time, as he plans to live a full life. He also noted the role of his faith journey during this period.
He shared that during his illness, there were multiple instances where medical professionals believed he had passed away. It was during this period of intense struggle that Askren decided to embrace Christianity.
He explained that he had accompanied his wife to church for 15 years as a form of support for her, even though he did not identify as Christian himself. He described it as “weird” that upon waking up, he felt a strong conviction that he needed to fully commit to his faith.
Adding to the star-studded lineup for the Real American Freestyle 11 event, former UFC interim welterweight champion Colby Covington will also be competing.
Askren’s athletic career is extensive and impressive. The 41-year-old earned NCAA championships in the 170-pound division in both 2006 and 2007. He went on to represent Team USA in the 2008 Olympics, showcasing his elite wrestling talent on the international stage.
His international accolades include gold medals at the 2005 Pan American Championships and the 2009 World Championships. He transitioned to mixed martial arts in 2010, debuting in Bellator. He later competed in ONE Championship before making his way to the UFC.
During his UFC tenure, Askren secured a notable submission victory over Robbie Lawler at UFC 235. However, he faced a high-profile loss to Jorge Masvidal. Askren retired from professional mixed martial arts in 2019, concluding his career with a record of 19-2. Notably, both of his losses occurred within his three fights in the UFC.
In 2021, Askren stepped into the boxing ring for a highly publicized match against Jake Paul, further demonstrating his willingness to compete across different combat sports disciplines.
