Ben Askren returns to wrestling after double lung transplant to face Belal Muhammad at RAF 11

Ben Askren will return to competitive wrestling at RAF 11 on July 18 at Panther Arena in Milwaukee, where he is set to face former UFC welterweight champion Belal Muhammad — his first appearance in over a year after a double lung transplant that nearly cost him his life.

Askren, who first announced the matchup through Yahoo! Sports, suffered a severe bout with pneumonia that required the transplant and left him hospitalised for close to two months. Since returning home, the 40-year-old has continued his recovery and has been working behind the scenes at RAF as one of the promotion’s matchmakers since its launch less than a year ago. The Milwaukee event marks his debut as a competitor for the organisation.

Muhammad enters the bout looking to record his first RAF victory after dropping a tech-fall decision to David Carr at RAF 4 this past December. The outing in Milwaukee comes alongside a busy stretch for the former champion, who is also scheduled to fight Gabriel Bonfim in the main event of UFC Vegas 118 this Saturday, looking to end a two-fight losing skid in MMA.

Askren’s wrestling career predates his UFC run and includes two-time NCAA Division I All-American honours and a world championship at the 2010 FILA Wrestling World Championships. His willingness to compete again after such a serious medical episode underlines a remarkable recovery, though the nature of the RAF matchup — a wrestling-only format rather than MMA — reflects the physical realities of returning from major surgery.

RAF, which stands for Rokfin Amateur Fighting, has grown quickly since its inception and Askren’s involvement as a matchmaker has been central to its early programming. His transition from the back office to the mat for this event adds a personal dimension to an already notable card.