Full Breakdown
Ben Askren’s Final Match Marks Return After Double-Lung Transplant
7/18/2026, 8:41:18 PM
Event Overview
On July 18, 2026, former Olympian and Bellator champion Ben Askren will compete in his announced final wrestling bout at the UWM Panther Arena in Milwaukee. The co-main event of Real American Freestyle (RAF) 11 pairs Askren with former UFC welterweight Belal Muhammad, a Chicago native who trained with Askren at Roufusport.
Recovery Journey
Askren was hospitalized with pneumonia on May 28, 2025 and received a double-lung transplant in June 2025 at Froedtert Hospital. He remained in intensive care until mid-August, was briefly readmitted for infection, and left the hospital with a chest tube. By early September he abandoned his walker, and by the holidays he was exercising in a gym. He says the experience “changed my perception on mortality and life.”
Real American Freestyle & Participants
RAF, founded by CEO Chad Bronstein and the late WWE star Hulk Hogan, aims to provide a professional platform for freestyle wrestlers. Bronstein reported that more than 7,000 tickets sold out, the largest crowd for the league since its launch. The Milwaukee card also includes Wisconsin wrestlers Keegan O’Toole, Aeoden Sinclair, and UW associate head coach Tony Cassioppi. RAF COO Izzy Martinez helped schedule the Milwaukee date after Askren expressed interest.
Official Statements
Bronstein said the sold-out crowd shows demand for a hybrid combat-sport product that can coexist with WWE and UFC. Askren explained that the transplant “changed my perception on mortality and life” and that the chance to wrestle feels like a gift he wants to honor. Muhammad called Askren’s comeback “inspiring” and a testament to the resilience of fighters.
Verbatim Quotes
- “My perception on mortality and life has been changed significantly in the last year,” — Ben Askren, July 17, 2026
- “They sent me a list of possible dates and July 18 in Milwaukee was one of those possible dates,” — Ben Askren
- “There’s many people on a daily basis in the world who go through not taking the chance that they should take because they’re worried about their pride, they’re worried about their ego and they say, oh, if I do that and I lose, everyone’s going to say this or that about me,” — Ben Askren
- “It’s inspiring the world, and it’s showing the world a passion you have for something, nobody can stop you from going for it,” — Belal Muhammad
