Ben Askren has opened up about his remarkable comeback to sport, recalling that one year ago he was unable to stand under his own power or perform basic functions while hospitalized. Askren revealed he has a wrestling match scheduled, marking a return to competition after a serious health ordeal.
Ben Askren has opened up about a severe health crisis that left him hospitalized and physically incapacitated just one year ago, revealing that he is now healthy enough to return to competition with a wrestling match on the horizon.
The 41-year-old from the United States described a harrowing period in which he was unable to stand on his own or carry out basic daily functions while confined to a hospital bed. The turnaround he has made since then is striking. Askren, who trains out of Roufusport, compiled a 19-2-0 record across his MMA career and built his reputation as one of the sport's most relentless grapplers, averaging 4.33 takedowns per 15 minutes. His return to wrestling — the discipline that formed the foundation of everything he accomplished in combat sports — represents a significant personal milestone given what he has described enduring.
Why it matters
- Askren's comeback underscores a remarkable physical recovery from a hospitalization that left him unable to perform basic functions
- A return to wrestling, rather than MMA, suits his current stage of life and keeps him connected to the sport where he first made his name
- The announcement signals that Askren is healthy and active, putting to rest concerns about his long-term wellbeing
Askren's Roufusport gym also counts welterweight contender Belal Muhammad among its fighters, a reflection of the organization's continued footprint in combat sports. Muhammad, ranked sixth in the UFC welterweight division and eighth on the pound-for-pound list, carries a 24-5-0 record at 38 years old and averages 4.43 significant strikes per minute with a 43 percent accuracy rate — evidence that the gym Askren calls home remains a competitive environment at the highest level.
