# Former MMA star Askren retires after emotional wrestling comeback

Ben Askren, former UFC fighter and Olympic wrestler, announced his retirement after a brief return to competitive wrestling. The emotional decision followed a match that marked his first wrestling appearance in years. It closes a notable chapter in combat sports, highlighting the difficulty of returning to elite competition.

**Importance:** 3/5

## Sources

### Sports
- [BBC Sport](https://www.bbc.co.uk/sport/articles/c9d8lp1gqg8o?at_medium=RSS&at_campaign=rss) — Sun, 19 Jul 2026 07:09:10 GMT