Ben Askren is set to compete against Belal Muhammad at a RAF event on July 18. All 20,000 tickets for Conor McGregor's upcoming fight sold out in four minutes. Merab Dvalishvili revealed he suffered a broken nose during a training session with Frankie Edgar at RAF.
Ben Askren is scheduled to face Belal Muhammad in a grappling match at a RAF event on July 18, pairing two former Roufusport teammates in what promises to be a technically demanding contest on the mat.
Askren, 41, is one of the most decorated grapplers in MMA history. The American carries a professional record of 19-2-0 and built his career around relentless wrestling, averaging 4.33 takedowns per 15 minutes across his fights. Despite his long absence from competition, his grappling credentials remain beyond dispute.
Muhammad, 37, enters as an active and highly ranked competitor. Currently sitting sixth in the UFC welterweight division and eighth in the pound-for-pound rankings, he holds a record of 24-5-0 and has established himself as one of the most well-rounded fighters in the 170-pound class. He averages 4.43 significant strikes per minute and 2.14 takedowns per 15 minutes, demonstrating that his game extends well beyond striking.
Elsewhere, the RAF card is already generating significant buzz. All 20,000 tickets for Conor McGregor's upcoming fight at the event sold out in just four minutes, underlining the scale of interest surrounding the promotion.
In a separate development tied to the RAF camp, Merab Dvalishvili revealed he sustained a broken nose during a training session with Frankie Edgar.
Why it matters
- Askren vs. Muhammad pits a legendary grappler against a top-ten welterweight still competing at the highest level
- Both fighters share Roufusport roots, adding an intriguing personal dynamic to the matchup
- The rapid ticket sellout for McGregor's bout signals RAF has secured major mainstream attention heading into July 18
