Sports
Ben Askren Didn't Win the Match—But He Won the Weekend
If one were to limit their combat sports scope to the goings-on of the UFC, you might take pleasure from Dricus Du Plessis’ near-shutout performance against Kamaru Usman, Christian Leroy Duncan’s major victory over Jared Cannonier, or a star-making showing from young Tommy McMillen. Add in the PFL’s card this weekend, and there is Johnny Eblen’s TKO to become interim middleweight champion.
But the best moment in combat sports this weekend wasn’t found in a cage. It was found on a wrestling mat on the campus of the University of Wisconsin-Milwaukee. It was there that Real American Freestyle hosted RAF 11 and had a co-main event bout that was emotional and celebratory as Ben Askren made one last walk to the mat in front of a native Wisconsin audience.
For those who don’t know Askren’s story, it was just last year that this kind of event would have been considered a miracle.
In early June 2025, Askren was hospitalized after developing severe pneumonia as a result of a staph infection. He nearly lost his life, requiring a double lung transplant and, according to Askren, flatlining four times during his hospitalization.
One year ago this week, Askren was finally released from the hospital. And while such an ordeal would have spelt the complete end of one’s combat career, “Funky” gave himself one more chance to shine in a world that he’s so familiar with.
At the University of Missouri in the 2000s, Askren was a two-time NCAA champion and a multiple-time Big-12 champion. He went on to compete on the U.S. national wrestling team, winning a Pan-American Championships title and competing in the 2008 Olympics. Additionally, he won a gold medal in grappling at the 2009 World Grappling Championships.
That wrestling base would serve Askren well in his MMA career, going on to win welterweight championships in Bellator and ONE Championship. After a brief retirement in 2017 and 2018, Askren fought three times for the UFC in 2019, going 1-2, along with a boxing match with Jake Paul in 2021.
Askren’s opponent at RAF 11 was Belal Muhammad, a former UFC welterweight champion who trained with Askren as he was making his way up the ranks. Muhammad is an accomplished grappler in his own right, though he’s dropped three straight in the Octagon since losing the 170-pound championship.
As the two grappled for control during a quiet first period, Askren received a point when Muhammad could not score when put on the shot clock. Askren then defended well against Muhammad’s takedown attempts in the second period, and he added two points to his score by forcing Muhammad out of bounds twice. Askren had a 3-0 lead heading into the final period, and the UW-Milwaukee Panther Arena seemed to be in a bit of a frenzy, hoping for Askren to pull off the epic victory.
Alas, as some sports stories over the years have taught us, victory is not always found at the end. Muhammad rallied in the third period, scoring a double-leg takedown and two go-behinds, scoring two points each time and totaling a 6-3 come-from-behind victory.
While Askren didn’t get his hand raised, he is still a victor. The simple walk to the mat shows how far his health has come over the last year. And he got to compete one more time on the mats that he loves, against a well-respected former training partner and UFC champion, sharing the moment with family and friends as he left his wrestling shoes on the mat.
Askren got life’s biggest victory – he defeated death. Whether he won or lost this wrestling match was irrelevant; Ben Askren is the biggest victor in life this weekend.
Sports
Lakers sign developing forward Ziaire Willaims
Mar 31, 2026; Brooklyn, New York, USA; Brooklyn Nets forward Ziaire Williams (1) controls the ball against Charlotte Hornets guard Kon Knueppel (7) during the third quarter at Barclays Center. Mandatory Credit: Brad Penner-Imagn Images The Los Angeles Lakers announced the signing of five-year veteran forward Ziaire Williams on Sunday.
Terms were not released, but multiple outlets reported on Monday that the deal was for one year at a $3 million salary.
The 6-foot-9 Williams is reuniting with Bronny James, who he played alongside at California high school Sierra Canyon. The Lancaster, Calif. native earned McDonald’s All-America honors and was a consensus five-star recruit in the 2020 class.
The No. 10 overall pick in the 2021 draft out of Stanford by the Memphis Grizzlies, Williams is a career 8.7 points-per-game scorer, though he averaged a career high 10.2 points last season for the Nets, his second season in Brooklyn after three seasons in Memphis.
He reached career highs in games played and starts (63/45), points (632), field goals made (214), 3-point field goals made (103), rebounds (287), assists (84) and blocked shots (28) during his first season in Brooklyn.
Williams, 24, converted 85% (119 of 140) of his free throw attempts in 2025-26 and is an 82.4% career shooter from the stripe.
–Field Level Media
Sports
DeWanna Bonner helps Mercury halt losing streak, avenge loss to Sun
Jul 19, 2026; Phoenix, Arizona, USA; Phoenix Mercury forward-guard DeWanna Bonner (24) drives against Connecticut Sun center Olivia Nelson-Ododa (10) in the first half at Mortgage Matchup Center. Mandatory Credit: Rick Scuteri-Imagn Images DeWanna Bonner scored a game-high 21 points and the host Phoenix Mercury ended a five-game losing streak with a 72-63 victory over the Connecticut Sun on Sunday.
The win avenged a 96-83 loss to the visiting Sun on Friday. But on Sunday, Phoenix led for nearly the entire game and used a fourth quarter run to pull away.
Phoenix (9-18) had a balanced performance, led by Bonner’s 21 points on 7-for-13 shooting. Kahleah Copper added 18 points and made all eight of her free throws. Monique Akoa Makani tallied 11 points and grabbed six rebounds. Alyssa Thomas added seven points and dished out 11 assists.
Connecticut pulled to within 63-62 on a Charlisse Walker-Leger 3-point play with 4:42 to play, but Phoenix responded with a 9-1 run to finish the game, with Bonner and Copper scoring eight of the pivotal points. Copper’s backdoor layup and pair of free throws most on the next two possessions immediately stemmed the tide.
Phoenix led, 18-12, after the first quarter as Bonner and Akoa Makani each scored six points.
They took control after trailing 27-26 as Leger-Walker scored a lay-up for the Sun with 4:24 left in the first half. The Mercury went on a 17-6 run to end the first half, with Bonner contributing a 3-point shot and an old-fashioned 3-point play to the run.
Phoenix led, 43-33, at the half and 54-49 after three quarters.
The Mercury won despite shooting just 2-for-15 (13.3%) from 3-point range and being outrebounded, 43-39.
Connecticut (7-19) saw a two-game winning streak end. Veteran center Brittney Griner scored 19 points for the Sun, shooting 7-for-12 from the field while pulling five rebounds. Olivia Nelson-Ododa’s double-double helped Connecticut stay close, as she tallied 12 points on 5-for-9 shooting while grabbing 12 rebounds.
Leila Lacan scored a career-best 26 points on Friday but scored just seven points on 2-for-9 shooting on Sunday while committing nine turnovers.
Connecticut shot 37.9% (22-for-58) overall and committed 21 turnovers in the loss. The 21 turnovers led to 22 Mercury points.
Bonner Leads Mercury to Revenge Win over Sun to Halt Losing Streak
–Field Level Media
Sports
FaZe Vegas won't be denied at CDL Championship grand final
Jul 19, 2019; Miami Beach, FL, USA; A general view of custom PlayStation controllers sold by a vender during the Call of Duty League Finals e-sports event at Miami Beach Convention Center. Mandatory Credit: Jasen Vinlove-Imagn Images FaZe Vegas completed an undefeated tournament run with a 5-2 victory over OpTic Texas on Sunday in the grand final of the 2026 Call of Duty League Championship in Las Vegas.
The victory was worth $800,000 in the $2 million prize pool, with OpTic Texas collecting $480,000.
American Chris “Simp” Lehr of FaZe Vegas was named tournament Most Valuable Player.
This was the final event and the world championship of the Black Ops 7 competitive season. Eight of 12 teams qualified for the CDL Championship in the regular season from Dec. 5, 2025 to June 29, led by first-place OpTic Texas (40-12, +69).
The playoff format was a double-elimination bracket, with all matches best-of-five except for Sunday’s grand final, which was best-of-nine.
OpTic Texas took the opening map, Colossus Hardpoint, 250-216. FaZe Vegas responded by capturing the next four maps to be on the brink of the championship.
Vegas won 6-5 on Raid Search and Destroy, 4-3 on Scar Overload, 250-194 on Scar Hardpoint and 6-5 on Den Search and Destroy.
Texas stayed alive with a 4-3 victory on Den Overload, before FaZe Vegas closed out with another close outcome, 6-5 on Hacienda Search and Destroy.
Zack “Drazah” Jordan paced FaZe Vegas with a match-high 153 kills for a plus-23 kill-death differential. Teammate Jordan “Abuzah” Francois of Belgium posted 151 kills and a match-best plus-40 K-D differential. All four Vegas players had positive differentials.
All four OpTic players were in the negative, with Anthony “Shotzzy” Cuevas-Castro recording a team-best 129 kills but also a team-worst 156 deaths for a minus-27 K-D differential.
FaZe Vegas went unscathed in the tournament, downing G2 Minnesota 3-1, the Riyadh Falcons 3-0 and OpTic Texas 3-2 in the upper bracket to advance to the grand final.
OpTic Texas opened with a sweep of the Miami Heretics 3-0, then topped the Paris Gentle Mates 3-1. After losing to Vegas and dropping to the elimination side of the bracket, Texas beat the Falcons 3-1 on Saturday to get another shot at FaZe.
Call of Duty League Championship prize pool
1. $800,000, FaZe Vegas
2. $480,000, OpTic Texas
3. $320,000, Riyadh Falcons
4. $160,000, Paris Gentle Mates
5-6. $80,000, Miami Heretics, G2 Minnesota
7-8. $40,000, Los Angeles Thieves, Toronto KOI
–Field Level Media
Lakers sign developing forward Ziaire Willaims
DeWanna Bonner helps Mercury halt losing streak, avenge loss to Sun
