{"id":366556,"date":"2026-07-15T07:29:05","date_gmt":"2026-07-15T01:59:05","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/ebiztoday.news\/?p=366556"},"modified":"2026-07-15T07:29:05","modified_gmt":"2026-07-15T01:59:05","slug":"chael-sonnen-says-he-feels-uncomfortable-about-ben-askrens-return-to-competition-at-raf-11","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/ebiztoday.news\/index.php\/2026\/07\/15\/chael-sonnen-says-he-feels-uncomfortable-about-ben-askrens-return-to-competition-at-raf-11\/","title":{"rendered":"Chael Sonnen says he feels \u2018uncomfortable\u2019 about Ben Askren\u2019s return to competition at RAF 11"},"content":{"rendered":"

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This coming Saturday, Ben Askren returns to competition after what has been an incredibly tough time for him during the last yr.<\/strong><\/p>\n

Almost a yr ago, former UFC star Ben Askren\u2018s battle with life-threatening pneumonia took a terrible turn, leaving him needing a double-lung transplant.<\/p>\n

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Fortunately, the veteran underwent a successful double transplant after spending 45-days in a coma finally leaving hospital after several months.<\/p>\n

Shockingly, though, the 41-year-old revealed over a month ago that he would return to competition at Real American Freestyle Wrestling at RAF 11 to tackle former UFC champion, Belal Muhammad.<\/p>\n

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What do you make of Ben Askren\u2019s decision to return to RAF Wrestling?<\/h3>\n

Just over a yr after undergoing a double lung transplant that saved his life, Askren will tackle Belal Muhammad on July 18<\/p>\n<\/p><\/div>\n<\/p><\/div>\n<\/p><\/div>\n<\/p><\/div>\n<\/p><\/div>\n<\/section>\n

Chael Sonnen says Askren\u2019s return makes him feel \u2018uncomfortable\u2019<\/h2>\n

Askren hasn\u2019t competed since 2021 when he took on Jake Paul in a highly controversial boxing match, wherein he was knocked out in the primary round.<\/p>\n

And after having overcome such a terrible scare, there was widespread worry for Askren, with people questioning his decision to return.<\/p>\n

UFC icon Joe Rogan admitted he’s apprehensive for the star when he first heard in regards to the news, stating that it’s a foul idea.<\/p>\n

That may be a sentiment that RAF commentator Chael Sonnen agrees with, as he has admitted that Askren\u2019s return to the mats makes him feel \u2018uncomfortable\u2019.<\/p>\n

\u201cIt makes me uncomfortable, once I examine it the response was purported to be excitement, it was purported to be inspirational and I get there, it’s exciting, it’s inspirational but I used to be uncomfortable at first,\u201d Sonnen told MMAFighting.<\/p>\n

\u201cI believed what a stud Belal Muhammad is for taking this. I don\u2019t think very many individuals would have taken this risk and Belal realized one thing that’s one thing \u2013 If I don\u2019t do that, Ben doesn\u2019t get the chance.\u201d<\/p>\n

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When the bout was first announced, Muhammad admitted that he’s in a lose-lose situation but was completely happy to be in that.<\/p>\n

Now, though, the previous champion has stated that he isn’t just there to participate and that he’ll do every part to get his hand raised in Askren\u2019s controversial comeback.<\/p>\n

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Follow us on Google Discover This coming Saturday, Ben Askren returns to competition after what has been an incredibly tough time for him during the last yr. Almost a yr ago, former UFC star Ben Askren\u2018s battle with life-threatening pneumonia took a terrible turn, leaving him needing a double-lung transplant. Fortunately, the veteran underwent a […]<\/p>\n","protected":false},"author":1,"featured_media":366557,"comment_status":"open","ping_status":"open","sticky":false,"template":"","format":"standard","meta":{"footnotes":""},"categories":[338],"tags":[36042,5911,9093,1261,1896,31261,1161,9094,24184],"class_list":["post-366556","post","type-post","status-publish","format-standard","has-post-thumbnail","hentry","category-sports","tag-askrens","tag-ben","tag-chael","tag-competition","tag-feels","tag-raf","tag-return","tag-sonnen","tag-uncomfortable"],"aioseo_notices":[],"aioseo_head":"\n\t\t\n\t\n\t\n\t\n\t\n\t\n\t\n\t\t\n\t\t\n\t\t\n\t\t\n\t\t\n\t\t\n\t\t\n\t\t\n\t\t\n\t\t\n\t\t\n\t\t\n\t\t\n\t\t\n\t\t\n\t\t