Ben Askren calls comeback to wrestling at RAF 11 ‘surreal’

Ben Askren’s comeback cannot be understated. The two-time NCAA wrestling champion from Missouri, former Olympian and MMA champion is somehow getting back on a wrestling mat Saturday night. At Real American Freestyle 11, Askren will wrestle former UFC welterweight champion Belal Muhammad in the co-main event in Milwaukee. In case you forgot, Askren legally died four times last summer and needed a double lung transplant to survive. Fast forward a year later, he’s able to live a relatively normal life once again and was granted an opportunity to finally wrestle for RAF. Win or lose, Askren couldn’t be more thankful. “It’s surreal a little bit,” Askren said Friday. “I was just reflecting as I was sitting there, and it’s like a year ago today, I was begging the nurses to let me go home for my birthday because I’ve been stuck in an effing hospital room for however many days. I was only conscious about 15 those days, but probably 50 or so, and they refused to let me go home because I couldn’t stand up under my own power and I couldn’t go to the bathroom on my own power. “So you know I got a wrestling match tomorrow, but that kind of pales in comparison to where I was a year ago, when it’s like you’re just worried about standing up and trying to feed yourself and trying to be able to go to the bathroom and that type of thing. So, you know, my perception on mortality and life has been changed significantly from the events in the last year, and I’m just like: ‘I get to go wrestle.’ I know there’s some of these guys’ lives and they’re worried (about) winning and losing tomorrow. I get to wrestle. That’s all. That’s it for me. I’m so happy.” Real American Freestyle is streamed exclusively on FOX Nation. Fans and viewers can watch HERE. Muhammad is jumping into the RAF pool for the second time, giving Askren the match. While he’s the younger and healthier wrestler and fighter, and the big favorite, he’s honored to share the mat with the two-time Hodge Trophy winner. “The kudos should all be for Ben for what he’s done for his story,” Muhammad said. “It’s inspiring the world and it’s showing the world like a passion you have for something. Nobody can stop you from going for it, right? Like I’m sure a million doctors, a million people are telling him not to do it, but this is what he loves … He’s built different. Wrestlers are built different. Fighters are built different. So the fact that he’s doing it, and I’m able to be on the other end of it and be his opponent, it’s an honor.” Ben Askren pulling off the comeback of comebacks Askren, who serves as the rules analyst during Real American Freestyle broadcasts, did go on to say this is a one-off event. But it’s an exciting return nonetheless, regardless of the result, considering the circumstances. A two-time NCAA champion, Askren is one of the best collegiate wrestlers of the last 25 years. He was a four-time finalist for Missouri from 2004-07, winning the latter two titles. At the senior level, Askren won the 2008 Olympic Trials at 74 KG and represented Team USA at the 2008 Summer Olympics in Beijing. He went 1-1 at the tournament and did not medal. After not placing at the 2010 World Team Trials, Askren fully transitioned into MMA. Following three fights on the regional scene, Askren was signed by Bellator and proceeded to win the welterweight belt and remained undefeated in his time with the promotion. He then signed with ONE FC, going 6-0 with one no-contest and was the welterweight champion. Although past his prime and initially retired, Askren returned to mixed martial arts in March of 2019 with the UFC and defeated former champion Robbie Lawler by submission in his debut, getting to 19-0 in his career. However, he would lose to Jorge Masvidal in a would-be title eliminator to challenge Kamaru Usman for the belt. Masvidal knocked out Askren in five seconds with a flying knee. He ended his career with a loss to fellow grappler and long-time fighter Demian Maia. “I didn’t care much about legacy prior to almost dying, but now digging into the Bible more, it’s like you know, I think on a deeper level about humility, pride, ego, and the problems it causes human beings, you know,” Askren aid. “So, like, well, why wouldn’t Belal take the match if you know, if he had a big ego or he was worried about his pride? He wouldn’t take it, but he’s secure in who he is. So he says, ‘It’s just a wrestling match. Yeah, this guy’s had some issues, but let’s shake hands and let’s mix it up.’ “And there’s so many people on a day-to-day basis in the world who go through not taking the chances they should take because they’re worried about their pride or they’re worried about their ego, and they say, ‘oh, if I do that and I lose, then everyone’s going to think this or that of me.’ And I think so many people would be so much happier living their life if they just followed the path they wanted to and not worried about what the comments of social media are going to be or what the people in the community thought of them, and just go live your life and do the things you want to.”