Ben Askren’s Emotional Farewell Message Sparks Heartfelt Reactions Across MMA
Ben Askren's retirement from combat sports prompts tributes across the board.
In the fight game, there are losses that sting, and then there are moments that transcend the result altogether. Ben Askren's final walk off the wrestling mat belonged firmly in the latter category.
Just a year after surviving a life-threatening battle with pneumonia that required a double lung transplant, the former UFC and ONE Championship star returned for one last match under the RAF banner.
Although he didn't get his hand raised against Belal Muhammad, that hardly mattered. Simply making it back to competition was a victory in itself, and his emotional farewell afterward left fighters and fans alike celebrating a legacy built on far more than wins and losses.
“You’re a Legend” – MMA Stars Pay Tribute As Ben Askren Calls Time on an Unforgettable Career
As Askren laid his wrestling shoes on the mat, a tradition symbolizing retirement, the MMA community sprang into action with warmth, honoring one of the sport's most accomplished grapplers.
Former UFC Middleweight Champion Chris Weidman summed up what many were feeling, writing, "You are a legend! Huge inspiration to us all! What you have done for wrestling isn't quantifiable."
Meanwhile, UFC’s bantamweight contender and ex-champion Merab Dvalishvili echoed that sentiment while praising Askren's remarkable resilience -
"You are a legend @BenAskren. After all you have been through, you will always be a winner!"
Tim Welch, Sean O'Malley's longtime coach, kept his reaction short but impactful, calling Askren a "Beast."
Ben Askren with Lengthy MMA Career
The outpouring of respect reflected the unique career Askren carved out across multiple MMA promotions. Before arriving in the UFC in 2019, "Funky" established himself as one of the most dominant welterweights outside the promotion.
In fact, he captured titles in both Bellator and ONE Championship while remaining unbeaten for years, earning a reputation as one of the sport's premier wrestlers.
However, his UFC stint lasted only three fights, yet it produced some of the most memorable moments of his career. Askren announced himself by submitting former champion Robbie Lawler before suffering the infamous five-second flying knee knockout to Jorge Masvidal, still the fastest knockout in UFC history.
His final MMA appearance was against Demian Maia, after which he stepped away from competition. From becoming a two-time NCAA champion and representing Team USA at the Olympics to winning world titles in mixed martial arts, the Wisconsin native certainly has made his kin and clan proud.
Ben Askren’s Farewell Message Caps Extraordinary Comeback vs. Belal Muhammad
If the result at RAF 11 was secondary, the journey to get there was anything but. The 42-year-old entered Saturday's match against former UFC Welterweight Champion Muhammad just over a year removed from a medical ordeal that nearly claimed his life.
After battling severe pneumonia, he underwent a double lung transplant and later revealed that doctors had pronounced him clinically dead multiple times during his recovery.
Against an active world-class competitor in Muhammad, Askren showed flashes of the wrestler that made him famous. He raced to an early 3-0 lead before fatigue eventually set in, allowing Muhammad to rally for a 6-3 victory.
Afterward, an emotional Askren left his shoes on the mat before addressing the hometown crowd. "There were times when I couldn't feed myself, I couldn't stand up or go to the bathroom, and every single day I woke up and I thanked God for the chance to do it just one more time."
He continued, "I promised God I'm going to make the most of this day. I'm gonna treat people well, I'm gonna work my a** off, and I'm going to try and make a difference in this world. I love you guys."
Ben Askren Takes to Social Media After Retirement Match
Reflecting on the moment, later, he wrote on X, "Some people talk about leaving it all on the mat!!! I really got to. What an amazing sport and what a blessed life I get to live."
For many watching, those words carried even more weight than the match itself. Askren had already beaten the toughest opponent he would ever face long before he stepped onto the mat in Milwaukee.
