Askren Loses 6-3 to Muhammad After Lung Transplant Return
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- Ben Askren lost 6-3 to former UFC welterweight champion Belal Muhammad in the RAF 11 co-main event in Milwaukee, his first combat sports appearance since a 2021 first-round knockout by Jake Paul.
- Askren built a 3-0 lead before noticeably fatiguing in the final round, telling the crowd "I get tired fast these days" as he left his shoes on the mat in a symbolic retirement.
- The 42-year-old former NCAA Division I national champion and U.S. Olympian was hospitalized for pneumonia in 2025 and subsequently underwent double lung transplant surgery, making Saturday's bout an improbable comeback.
- Askren said Saturday was his 42nd birthday and credited it with inspiring the return, adding: "Every single day I woke up and thanked God for the chance to do it one more time."
- His career included title reigns in Bellator MMA and One FC plus a UFC run featuring bouts against Robbie Lawler, Jorge Masvidal, and Demian Maia.
- In the RAF 11 main event, Colby Covington defeated UFC lightweight Arman Tsarukyan 5-3 to claim the RAF cruiserweight crossover title and called for future matchups against Muhammad, Khamzat Chimaev, and Tyron Woodley.
Why it matters: Askren's bout marks the close of a combat sports career that spanned Bellator, One FC, and the UFC, and his shoeless exit signals permanent retirement. The main-event result keeps Covington in the welterweight title conversation, as he immediately name-dropped three potential opponents.
