This is the live blog for Ben Askren vs. Belal Muhammad, the co-main event wrestling match at Saturday’s RAF 11 card in Milwaukee, Wisconsin.
A two-time NCAA Div. 1 national champion and two-time Dan Hodge trophy winner, Askren is one of the most accomplished wrestlers to ever fight in MMA, also competing in the 2008 Olympics. Askren parlayed that wrestling ability into world championships for ONE and Bellator, before finally moving to the UFC for a short run before retiring. Unfortunately, tragedy
struck Askren last year when he was hospitalized with severe pneumonia, ultimately requiring a lung transplant. Now back to health, Askren is taking this match as a one-off, a bout that seems more about its message than the result of the match.
A former UFC welterweight champion, Muhammad wrestled in high school but not past that, though his MMA career was defined by his wrestling chops. Muhammad also has history with Askren, training with him during their MMA careers, making this bout perhaps less of a heated engagement than a fun farewell match for Askren.
Check out the live blog for Tsarukyan vs. Covington below.
