Ben Askren is returning to competition to face Belal Muhammad in a wrestling match at the RAF 11 event.
Ben Askren is coming out of retirement to compete in a wrestling match against Belal Muhammad at RAF 11, the two former Roufusport teammates set to clash in a grappling-focused contest.
Askren, 41, holds a 19-2-0 professional MMA record and built his entire fighting reputation on elite wrestling. The American, who stands five-foot-eleven with a 73-inch reach, was one of the most dominant grapplers of his generation, averaging 4.33 takedowns per 15 minutes across his MMA career. That takedown output made him nearly impossible to keep off the mat, and it is that same skillset he will be showcasing at RAF 11.
Muhammad, 37, is very much an active force in the welterweight division, currently ranked sixth in the 170-pound rankings and eighth pound-for-pound. He carries a 24-5-0 record and shares the same five-foot-eleven frame and Orthodox stance as Askren. While Muhammad averages 2.14 takedowns per 15 minutes in MMA competition, this bout will test his wrestling credentials in a dedicated grappling setting rather than a full mixed rules environment.
Why it matters
- Askren's return places one of MMA's all-time great wrestlers back in competitive action, raising the profile of RAF 11 considerably.
- For Muhammad, a ranked welterweight contender, performing well against a specialist of Askren's caliber could reinforce his own grappling credentials at a key stage of his career.
- The shared Roufusport background adds an intriguing team-versus-team dynamic to what is already a strong stylistic matchup on the mat.
- A pure wrestling format strips away Muhammad's striking advantages — he averages 4.43 significant strikes per minute — putting both men squarely in Askren's historical comfort zone.
