Ben Askren set for final wrestling match after health recovery
Yahoo Sports • 1 min read • Latest: Jul 17, 2026, 9:47 PM
Last updated Jul 17, 2026
Ben Askren will make a one-time return to wrestling on July 18, 2026, one year after undergoing a life-saving double-lung transplant due to severe pneumonia. The former UFC fighter recalls the severe health issues he faced last year, initially dismissing his condition as minor. Following his hospitalization, which lasted over a month, he has made significant strides in his recovery. Askren will face Belal Muhammad in this special match, marking a notable moment in his journey back to health.
- •Askren's last wrestling match will be on July 18, 2026.
- •He underwent a double-lung transplant due to necrotizing pneumonia.
- •Askren spent over 40 days hospitalized and unconscious.
- •Wife Amy played a crucial role in getting him medical help.
- •He will compete against Belal Muhammad in his return match.
- 9:47 PMYahoo Sports — Ben Askren Returning to the Ring for a Final Time One Year After Lengthy Hospitalization with ‘Deathly’ Pneumonia (Exclusive)
"“I’m not who I was, but I’m doing good and I’m not all that far off,” Askren tells PEOPLE
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