“Funky” is back.
Former Ultimate Fighting Championship (UFC) fighter and two-time NCAA Division I national champion Ben Askren is returning to the wrestling mats this weekend (Sat., July 18, 2026) against former UFC Welterweight champion Belal Muhammad at RAF 11, which goes down inside UWM Panther Arena in Milwaukee, Wisconsin.
And simply put, Askren’s return to any form of competition is an absolute miracle
.RAF released a new promo ahead of Askren’s “astonishing return” to wrestling, and, yeah, it
is pretty hard not to get emotional watching it.
Check it out below:
“Funky” was hospitalized a year ago with a severe case of pneumonia that developed as a result of a staph infection. Askren later revealed that he nearly died four times before eventually receiving a double lung transplant surgery that ultimately saved his life — however, literally less than a year ago, he was still in the hospital.
“Funky” was hospitalized last year with a severe case of pneumonia that developed as a result of a staph infection. Askren later revealed that he nearly died four times before eventually receiving a double lung transplant that ultimately saved his life.
Less than one year ago, Askren was still in a hospital bed fighting for his life.
Now, he is preparing to wrestle in front of his home-state crowd in Milwaukee.
That is legitimately insane.
Askren has made it clear that this is not the start of some full-time comeback. The 40-year-old has repeatedly said this is a one-off opportunity and that he is not planning to wrestle again after RAF 11.
But considering everything he has been through, even making the walk is a victory.
For much more on RAF and wrestling news click here.
