Ben Askren’s story seemingly gets more inspirational by the day. Askren, who nearly died just over a year ago after suffering necrotizing pneumonia from a severe staph infection, is returning to competitive wrestling on July 18 when he clashes with Belal Muhammad at Real American Freestyle Wrestling 11 in Milwaukee.
The event is taking place on Askren’s 42nd birthday. If that wasn’t amazing enough, I spoke with Askren ahead of the event and he mentioned to me he believes he might be on the autism spectrum. It’s a remarkable realization and one that could be an even deeper inspiration. Let’s talk wrestling.
Key Facts at a Glance
- Who: Ben Askren, two-time NCAA champion, Olympian, former Bellator and ONE welterweight champion
- The disclosure: Askren told me he believes he may be on the autism spectrum; he has never been formally diagnosed
- His framing: He ties the traits to his focus and his unorthodox wrestling style
- Health: Returning about a year after a double lung transplant that followed necrotizing pneumonia
- Next: Faces Belal Muhammad at RAF 11 on July 18, his 42nd birthday, in Milwaukee
What Did Ben Askren Say About Being on the Autism Spectrum?
Askren told me the idea started with his wife. Years ago, she pointed out that he matched almost every marker on a list of Asperger’s traits, and it stuck with him. He said he checked the box on nine out of ten.
He has never been formally diagnosed, and he was careful to say so. In the full conversation, he framed it less as a label and more as self-knowledge, offering that on some level “all human beings are a little bit different.”
Asperger’s, as a standalone diagnosis, was folded into autism spectrum disorder in the DSM-5 years ago, which is part of why his account is a personal read rather than a clinical one.
In any case, it made the conversation all the more refreshing.
How Does Askren Think It Shaped His Wrestling Career?
He connects the traits directly to how he competed. Askren said many high-level performers likely sit somewhere on the spectrum, pointing to intense focus, a tolerance for endless repetition, and a habit of tuning out what everyone else thinks.
That last part, he said, is why his style looked like nobody else’s. He ignored the conventional wisdom about how to wrestle and built something unorthodox, and it carried him to two NCAA titles and the 2008 Olympics.
He was also honest that the same wiring has a cost, admitting the quick problem-solving that helps him can make him blunt with people, something his wife flagged and he actively works on.
Why Ben Askren’s Candor Resonates
I have several loved ones and friends who are on the spectrum, and because of my experience caring for and loving those individuals, it’s refreshing and motivating to learn about prominent people who have accomplished amazing things in similar situations.
Askren’s own message lands in the same place. Because of this, my interview with Askren is one of my favorites in the hundreds I’ve done.
He talked about self-acceptance, about acknowledging who you are instead of hiding it, and said people would be better off being honest about their struggles rather than selling a perfect image.
Ben Askren’s Return at RAF 11
The wrestling and his history as an icon of the sport carries its own weight. Askren was the first athlete Real American Freestyle ever signed, back in May 2025, months before the infection and double lung transplant nearly ended everything.
Now he finally debuts, facing recent UFC welterweight champion Belal Muhammad at RAF 11 in Milwaukee on his birthday. He is part of the same wave of combat sports names competing outside the UFC, but his path there is unlike anyone before him.
A year ago Askren could not stand on his own. Win or lose, showing up at all is the story.