Ben Askren will face Belal Muhammad at a RAF event on July 18. When Muhammad was offered the fight, his first question was reportedly whether Askren was healthy and doing okay. Merab Dvalishvili also revealed he broke his nose again during a grappling match with Frankie Edgar at a recent RAF event, though he said the injury would not stop him.
Former UFC welterweight champion Ben Askren will step onto the mats for a grappling contest against Belal Muhammad at a RAF event scheduled for July 18.
Askren, 41, carries a 19-2-0 professional record and built his reputation as one of wrestling's most dominant forces. Standing five-foot-eleven with a 73-inch reach, the Roufusport product averaged 4.33 takedowns per 15 minutes across his career. Notably, when Muhammad was offered the matchup, his first reported concern was whether Askren was healthy and in good shape — a detail that speaks to the respect between the two American fighters who share the same gym.
Muhammad, also 37 years old and also out of Roufusport, is currently ranked sixth in the UFC welterweight division and eighth in the pound-for-pound rankings. He holds a 24-5-0 record and is among the most active grapplers still competing at the sport's highest level, averaging 2.14 takedowns per 15 minutes in MMA competition. The two teammates will now test each other in a pure grappling format.
The card also carries a notable injury update. Bantamweight contender Merab Dvalishvili revealed he broke his nose again during a recent RAF grappling session against Frankie Edgar. The 35-year-old Georgian, ranked first in the bantamweight division and second pound-for-pound with a 21-5-0 record, said the injury will not sideline him. Dvalishvili, who trains out of Serra-Longo Fight Team, averages a remarkable 6.4 takedowns per 15 minutes and has long been defined by his relentless physicality.
Why it matters
- Askren and Muhammad are Roufusport teammates, making this a rare public intra-gym grappling contest
- Muhammad's top-six welterweight ranking adds competitive credibility to the exhibition format
- Dvalishvili's nose injury, while downplayed, is worth monitoring given his position as the division's top-ranked bantamweight
