Ben Askren made his triumphant return to combat sports last night (Sat., July 18, 2026) at RAF 11 LIVE on FOX Nation from inside UW-Milwaukee Panther Arena in Milwaukee, Wisconsin, but ended up tasting defeat at the hands of former UFC welterweight champion Belal Muhammad.
Saturday night was an incredible moment for Askren as the former MMA fighter returned to action for the first time since undergoing a double lung transplant in 2025. Askren died four times during that horrifying process and nearly didn’t make it home. After a long recovery, “Funky” decided to return to the wrestling mat, which all culminated Saturday night at RAF 11.
Standing in Askren’s way of a storybook ending was Muhammad, who was making his second appearance under the Real American Freestyle (RAF) banner. Muhammad was the favorite to take care of business and play spoiler, but Askren’s determination and resolve made all the ingredients for a potential upset.
Unfortunately, that wasn’t the case on Saturday night.
Askren did look strong in the early going as he got off to a 3-0 lead with good pressure and quick defense. However, Muhammad made a big comeback in Round 3 and ended up scoring six total points to takeover 6-3. Askren’s coach threw the brick after the last points were scored, but the match was already a wrap.
It’s an unfortunate ending for Askren, but still an inspirational moment from the man known as “Funky.” Check out the video highlights below:
For more RAF 11 results, highlights, and coverage click HERE.
About the Author
