Connect with us

MMA

RAF 11 Results: Belal Muhammad outworks Ben Askren in Askren’s final match

Published

19 hours ago

on

RAF 11 Results: Belal Muhammad outworks Ben Askren in Askren’s final match

Ben Askren didn't win, but he's a winner simply for making it to the mat.

On Saturday night, Askren competed for the final time, losing by points to Belal Muhammad at RAF 11.

Last year, Askren suffered serious complications from pneumonia, flatlining several times, and ultimately requiring a lung transplant to survive. It seemed unlikely that Askren would ever compete again, but after a year of recovery and work, the former Olympian got himself ready for one final match. But it was an open question about how Askren would look in the match given his health complications, and while Askren didn't show off much of his classic “Funky†style, the man still has a strong foundation in fundamentals and put that on display.

Defense was the name of the game for Askren, who stuffed all offense from Muhammad, who was not particularly aggressive, perhaps out of deference to Askren's comeback story, or perhaps just respectful of Askren's wrestling pedigree. But give credit to Askren, who also did a phenomenal job of hand-fighting and not allowing Muhammad to gain any offensive purchase.

In the second period, Askren finally initiated offense of his own, driving Muhammad out for a takedown attempt, and then another, which forced Muhammad to open his offense up, but Askren remained stalwart.

Muhammad started to really press forward in the final period and finally scored a takedown on Askren, who was really fading down the stretch. And Muhammad took advantage, scoring again on Askren, who was really showing his exhaustion. He did his best to fend Muhammad off down the stretch, but once Muhammad took a lead, Askren had no real ability to come back, losing a decision to Muhammad.

After the bout, Muhammad put Askren over, imploring the crowd to give him a standing ovation, and then calling out Colby Covington.

Askren then took the mic to give his final thoughts before taking off his wrestling shoes, signifying his retirement.

“I get tired real fast these days. … I tried as hard as I could in the third period, but my legs wouldn't carry me any longer.

“For sure my last time on the mat, and I love you guys. I really do.â€

Related Topics:
Continue Reading
Click to comment

Leave a Reply

Your email address will not be published. Required fields are marked *

MMA

Conor McGregor provides update on extent of his knee injury, gives timeline for UFC return

Published

6 hours ago

on

July 19, 2026

By

Conor McGregor provides update on extent of his knee injury, gives timeline for UFC return

“Update: It was ACL and meniscus. It is the same injury as the first Holloway fight, only this time the opposite leg. Quite shocking. I returned to competition within 9 months to fight Diego Brandao back then. With today's regenerative medicine advancements and improved training methods it is well within my realm to return by next summer. I am walking without a crutch. I done leg extension machine work the other day to no issue. So I can walk without aid, and activate my quad under resistance. All very positive. I am maximum discipline and have maintained it fully since the bout. I wonder was I saved from something worse here. I believe so. I would have attended the after party as “the man†and who knows then. I believe I was saved.

“Thank you God!

“On we go, no sad stories. Thank you for the support and well wishes everyone, your health is your wealth.â€

Continue Reading

MMA

Alexandre Pantoja gives update on return: ‘I have unfinished business with Joshua Van’

Published

7 hours ago

on

July 19, 2026

By

Alexandre Pantoja gives update on return: ‘I have unfinished business with Joshua Van’

Alexandre Pantoja is all healed up and ready to settle the score with Joshua Van.

In December, Pantoja defended his flyweight title against Van in the co-main event of UFC 323, but was beset by disaster when he injured his arm trying to roll away after Van caught a kick just seconds into the bout. Since then, Pantoja has been out of action while he recovers, while Van successfully defended his new title in May with a fifth-round stoppage over Tatsuro Taira at UFC 328.

But now, Pantoja is fit and ready to get back to it.

“I'm ready,†Pantoja told MMA Fighting. “After December, what happened to my arm, two days after that, I went to the gym, started training with just one arm. That's who I am. I'm not done. I'm not done. I have so much to conquer. I have so much to prove. And when you have the belt, your words [mean more]. I want to take the belt again. I want to be UFC champion one more time and keep talking to good things, about the world and things I saw in my life, make people happy. That's what I want.â€

As mentioned, while Pantoja's been out, Van has already added a title defense to his résumé, and other flyweight contenders have been busy as well, with Manel Kape knocking out Kyoji Horiguchi, and Brandon Royval psetting Lone'er Kavanagh. For Pantoja, the continued growth of the division in his absence has been great for him, too.

“Real good fight. Real good fight,†Pantoja said of Van's win over Taira. “Showed a lot of high-level skills. Don't get me wrong, on the same night, you have the Chimaev and Strickland fight, you see the difference about the pace, about the high-level. That's good to prove to everybody the flyweight division is one of the more entertaining divisions in the UFC.

“You see Manel Kape with Kyoji Horiguchi. You see Brandon Royval, all these guys put on very good show to everybody, and I think right now, flyweight is better than ever. I think what happened with me last year made the division more fire. Now I have the opportunity to take over and [beat] everybody again.â€

Pantoja was particularly impressed by Kape's win over Horiguchi at UFC Vegas 119 last month. After the win, Kape lobbied for his shot at the flyweight title, but Pantoja says he's up first. Then he and Kape can run things back.

“Beautiful performance,†Pantoja said. “I think Kyoji Horiguchi gets very close to winning the fight, but Manel is the real deal. Manel Kape, for me, is one of the most dangerous fights in the world in flyweight. He's the next contender.

“Of course, I have unfinished business with Joshua Van. Like, as an athlete, I know I lost the fight. That happened. But like a man, I don't think he beat me. I'm still here. I'm ready to fight. I'm in amazing shape. Let's see what happens next.â€

Continue Reading

MMA

Dana White reveals Conor McGregor’s injury details from UFC 329: ‘His knee is f*cked up’

Published

8 hours ago

on

July 19, 2026

By

Dana White reveals Conor McGregor’s injury details from UFC 329: ‘His knee is f*cked up’

Conor McGregor tore his ACL.

Last weekend, McGregor made his long-awaited return to the cage at UFC 329, where he rematched Max Holloway in the main event. Unfortunately, the bout ended before it ever really got started as McGregor injured his knee in the opening moments while throwing a jumping switch kick. And now we know exactly what he did to it.

Speaking with reporters following UFC Oklahoma City, UFC CEO Dana White revealed that, as many speculated, McGregor tore his ACL.

“ACL,†White said when asked about the injury. “His knee is f*cked up.â€

That is a tough blow for McGregor, who spent the past five years out of action, much of that time due to his catastrophic leg break against Dustin Poirier. McGregor previously mentioned he would need surgery on the knee, but a torn ACL means “Notorious†is likely looking at another nine months to a year on the shelf.

Before UFC 329, McGregor mentioned that the UFC was targeting an April date for McGregor's final fight on his current UFC contract; however, given this news, the earliest McGregor can fight is probably next summer. And for White, it's so far out that any speculation about when or where is useless.

“He's having knee surgery. That's it,†White said. “The Conor McGregor discussion isn't even worth talking about. He's got to have knee surgery. He's going to have to go through physical therapy. It's all going to take time. And then when the doctor says you can start hardcore training again, then we start talking about Conor McGregor again.â€

Continue Reading
Advertisement

OUR NEWSLETTER

Subscribe Us To Receive Our Latest News Directly In Your Inbox!

We don’t spam! Read our privacy policy for more info.

Trending