AdvertisementAdvertisementFILE PHOTO: Mixed Martial Arts - Ultimate Fighting Championship - UFC - O2 Arena, London, Britain - March 16, 2019 Ben Askren talks to the media REUTERS/Matthew Childs/File Photo19 Jul 2026 06:48PM Bookmark Bookmark WhatsApp Telegram Facebook Twitter Email LinkedInAdd CNA as a trusted source to help Google better understand and surface our content in search results.Read a summary of this article on FAST.Get bite-sized news via a newcards interface. Give it a try.Click here to return to FAST Tap here to return to FASTFAST July 19 : Former UFC fighter and Olympic wrestler Ben Askren announced his retirement from competitive wrestling after losing to former UFC welterweight champion Belal Muhammad at the UW-Milwaukee Panther Arena on Saturday.The bout, organised by Real American Freestyle, was a remarkable return for Askren, who underwent a double lung transplant after a life-threatening battle with pneumonia last year.Askren has previously said that he spent around 40 days in a coma and lost a significant amount of weight during his recovery.Despite lingering physical limitations, the two-time NCAA champion and 2008 Olympian returned to the mat on his 42nd birthday for what he said would be his final appearance.Show MoreShow LessHe got off to a 3-0 lead with good pressure and quick defense but faded late in the contest, and Muhammad came back to secure a 6-3 victory."My legs gave out, they wouldn't carry me any longer," Askren said, after leaving his wrestling shoes on the mat to mark his retirement."For sure it's my last time on the mat. I couldn't find a better place to do this. I worked hard over the last year. It was tough."Every day I woke up and thanked God for the chance to do it just one more time."Askren retired from mixed martial arts in 2019 after a brief spell in the UFC.Source: ReutersNewsletterRecommended ReadSubscribe to CNA's Recommended ReadA single handpicked story that we think you shouldn't miss. Just one a day.Sign up for our newslettersGet our pick of top stories and thought-provoking articles in your inboxSubscribe hereGet the CNA appStay updated with notifications for breaking news and our best storiesDownload hereGet WhatsApp alertsJoin our channel for the top reads for the day on your preferred chat appJoin hereAlso worth readingContent is loading...Expand to read the full storyGet bite-sized news via a newcards interface. Give it a try.Click here to return to FAST Tap here to return to FASTFAST