UFC legend Ben Askren made an emotional comeback to competition on Saturday, one year after he almost died from pneumonia.
Last summer, the 42-year-old ‘flatlined’ four times and lost 50 pounds due to his battle with pneumonia – which required a terrifying life-or-death double lung transplant.
One year later, Askren came out of retirement this weekend for one final bout, facing fellow former UFC fighter Belal Muhammad in a wrestling match.
The fight was organised by Real American Freestyle (RAF) and took place on Askren’s 42nd birthday in his home town of Milwaukee, Wisconsin.
The match – and Askren’s competitive career – ended in a points loss for Askren with Muhammad winning 6-3.
‘My legs gave out, they wouldn’t carry me any longer,’ Askren said via BBC Sport. ‘For sure it’s my last time on the mat. I couldn’t find a better place to do this.
UFC legend Ben Askren made an emotional comeback to competition on Saturday
The 42-year-old ‘flatlined’ four times and underwent a double lung transplant last year
‘I worked hard over the last year. It was tough. There were times I couldn’t feed myself, I couldn’t stand up or go to the bathroom.
‘Every day I woke up and thanked God for the chance to do it just one more time. I promised I’m going to make the most of this day. I’m going to treat people well, work my ass off and try to make a difference in the world.’
Askren was in a coma for 37 days last year amid his ordeal, losing nearly a third of his bodyweight and weighing just 63kg (139lbs).
‘He [Askren] came back from death, this guy’s a legend,’ Muhammad said of his opponent.
‘He’s changing lives. I know, he changed my life. I’m at home ready to quit. I’m tired, I’m sore, all my losses, but I look at Ben still fighting every single day.
‘It shows you man, life is precious. Go after it bro.’
Askren suffered a staph infection and contracted pneumonia in June 2025, before being rushed to hospital to be put on a ventilator in critical condition.
He was in hospital for 59 days amid a long recovery but told TMZ at the beginning of the year that he had made significant progress.
The American fighter appeared emotional following the final bout of his career
The UFC icon was rushed to the hospital in June 2025 with a severe case of pneumonia
Askren and his wife, Amy, share three children: two daughters and a son
He said: ‘I kind of died once, you know, like for all intents and purposes, left Earth for 40 days.
‘I had no real communication to anyone. I had no recollection of anything.
‘So I get to kind of reflect on like, okay, had I not woken back up? How do I feel about what I did prior to this time?’
When asked how his life will change after his health scare, Askren continued: ‘Things are going to look significantly different. For example, I can’t go to the wrestling tournaments with my kid, you know, my own biological children.
‘I would like to, which would be very normal. So it’s going to look different.
‘But I feel like I’m finally at that point where I can kind of take a deep breath and easily accomplish the things I need to in the day.’
Askren first made a name for himself in the college ranks, as he became a two-time D1 champion with the University of Missouri.
He also participated in the 2008 Olympics and put together an impressive decade-long undefeated streak, winning world titles in Bellator and ONE before making the jump to UFC in 2019.
He defeated Robbie Lawler in his UFC debut but then suffered losses to Jorge Masvidal and Demian Maia before announcing his retirement from MMA.
He briefly returned to fighting in 2021 when he boxed against Jake Paul, losing to the social media star via TKO.
Askren married his wife in 2010 and they share three children, two daughters and a son.
