Ben Askren, the Olympic wrestler and former UFC mixed martial arts competitor, announced his retirement from wrestling competitions after losing to Belal Muhammad, the former UFC welterweight champion, at the UW-Milwaukee Panther Arena on Saturday.

This bout, organized by the Real American Freestyle institution, served as an extraordinary comeback for Askren, who underwent a double lung transplant after suffering from pneumonia that threatened his life last year.

Askren previously stated that he spent about 40 days in a coma and lost a significant amount of weight during his recovery.

Despite limitations on his ability to engage in his usual physical activities, Askren, a two-time NCAA champion and 2008 Olympian, returned to the wrestling mat on his 42nd birthday in what he described as his final appearance. Askren led 3-0 thanks to his good pressure and quick defense, but his performance waned late in the match, allowing Muhammad to capitalize, come back from behind, and secure a 6-3 victory.

After leaving his wrestling shoes on the mat to signal his retirement, Askren said, "My legs are tired and can no longer carry my body."

He added, "This is definitely my last time on the wrestling mat. I couldn't find a better place to do it. I worked hard this past year. It was tough."

He continued, "I woke up every day and thanked God for giving me the chance to do that one more time."

Askren retired from mixed martial arts in 2019 after a brief career in the UFC.