Ben Askren confirmed in an interview with Ariel Helwani that his upcoming grappling match with Belal Muhammad will be a one-time return and he has no plans to compete again afterward. Askren said he deliberately sought a tough opponent rather than an easy match, criticizing wrestlers who seek soft competition in RAF. He acknowledged his physical conditioning has declined significantly but noted his wrestling skills and feel for the sport remain at a high level.
Ben Askren has announced that his upcoming grappling bout against Belal Muhammad under the Real American Fighting banner will mark the end of his competitive career. The 41-year-old former undefeated welterweight contender made the declaration in a conversation with journalist Ariel Helwani, making clear he has no intentions of returning to competition after the match concludes.
Askren, who carries a 19-2-0 professional record and trains out of Roufusport, was a dominant force in his era, averaging 4.33 takedowns per 15 minutes across his career. Now 41, he acknowledged that his physical conditioning has declined considerably since his prime, though he maintained that his wrestling instincts and technical feel for the sport remain sharp. He also took aim at wrestlers who use RAF events as opportunities to pick up easy wins, stating he sought out a genuinely difficult opponent instead.
That opponent, Belal Muhammad, is no soft touch. The 37-year-old Roufusport teammate carries a 24-5-0 record and currently sits sixth in the UFC welterweight rankings while holding the eighth spot on the pound-for-pound list. Muhammad averages 4.43 significant strikes per minute with 43 percent accuracy and adds 2.14 takedowns per 15 minutes to his offensive arsenal, making him one of the more complete mixed martial artists in the division today.
Why it matters
- Askren is treating this as a genuine athletic send-off rather than an exhibition, raising the competitive stakes
- Muhammad brings active UFC-level credentials, representing a legitimately high bar for Askren's final appearance
- Both fighters share the same gym, adding a familiar yet competitive dynamic to the matchup
- Askren's comments put pressure on other veterans entering grappling events to seek meaningful competition
