{"id":369167,"date":"2026-07-20T14:12:44","date_gmt":"2026-07-20T08:42:44","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/ebiztoday.news\/?p=369167"},"modified":"2026-07-20T14:12:44","modified_gmt":"2026-07-20T08:42:44","slug":"chael-sonnen-emotionally-details-the-importance-of-ben-askrens-wrestling-return","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/ebiztoday.news\/index.php\/2026\/07\/20\/chael-sonnen-emotionally-details-the-importance-of-ben-askrens-wrestling-return\/","title":{"rendered":"Chael Sonnen emotionally details the importance of Ben Askren\u2019s wrestling return"},"content":{"rendered":"

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Chael Sonnen went from preparing for Ben Askren\u2019s funeral a 12 months ago to commentating on his return to wrestling last night.<\/strong><\/p>\n

An emotional evening in Milwaukee saw Askren return just 13 months after undergoing a double lung transplant to have his final ever match. He took on Belal Muhammad and was leading until the third period, at which point the previous UFC champion put the pace on and defeated him.<\/p>\n

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Who wins when Colby Covington defends his RAF Wrestling belt against Belal Muhammad?<\/h3>\n

The 2 former UFC titleholders will collide after their brawl on the RAF 11 press conference.<\/p>\n<\/p><\/div>\n<\/p><\/div>\n<\/p><\/div>\n

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Sonnen has been in any respect but one American RAF Wrestling event, and repeatedly insists after one show ends that he has just witnessed the very best one yet. Now, it seems it could be hard to beat after he got the prospect to commentate on such a historic moment in the game.<\/p>\n

Chael Sonnen explains the emotion behind Ben Askren vs Belal Muhammad<\/h2>\n

In a brand new YouTube video, Chael Sonnen noted just how severe Ben Askren\u2019s physical issues were when he was at his worst. It makes the comeback all of the more remarkable, considering he was reportedly medically dead 4 times.<\/p>\n

\u201cI got a call one 12 months ago and I contacted the airlines to get a plane ticket because the decision was that Ben Askren had died,\u201d Sonnen explained. \u201cI used to be beginning to make arrangements in order that I could get to Wisconsin for the funeral.<\/p>\n

\u201cI get one other phone call \u2018well, he hasn\u2019t died that information was fallacious but he’s going to die\u2019 and that\u2019s tough stuff. This happened 4 times. Whatever has to occur medically so that you can be dead? Your heart stops? Whatever has to occur, happened to Ben 4 times.<\/p>\n

\u201c4 times, he was medically pronounced dead and the center beats again. It\u2019s a double lung transplant, tremendous support from the community, Andrew Tate, Dana White had done some wonderful things, so many individuals just made sure the resources and opportunities were there and he lived.\u201d<\/p>\n

Sonnen also made sure to credit Askren\u2019s opponent for his involvement, adding: \u201cHe weighed 138lb, that is one 12 months ago. He\u2019s now wrestling opposite world champion Belal Muhammad.<\/p>\n

\u201cAnd I\u2019ve got to inform you, as inspiring and inspirational and special as tonight was since it was Ben\u2019s last match and he said that from the start. It really wasn\u2019t about points, it was about \u2018I get to wrestle\u2019.<\/p>\n

\u201cNone of that happens without Belal Muhammad who got booed, he didn\u2019t get booed because anyone was against him, he got booed because they were showing their support to Ben Askren and we happened to be in his hometown.<\/p>\n

\u201cBy the point the night was over, the gang was on their feet cheering for Belal and it was such a tough spot. But this moment doesn\u2019t occur without him. So I actually did feel good towards the community\u2026 We are able to\u2019t have a villain here and have Belal being booed because he\u2019s finding a victory.\u201d<\/p>\n

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Follow us on Google Discover Chael Sonnen went from preparing for Ben Askren\u2019s funeral a 12 months ago to commentating on his return to wrestling last night. An emotional evening in Milwaukee saw Askren return just 13 months after undergoing a double lung transplant to have his final ever match. He took on Belal Muhammad […]<\/p>\n","protected":false},"author":1,"featured_media":369168,"comment_status":"open","ping_status":"open","sticky":false,"template":"","format":"standard","meta":{"footnotes":""},"categories":[21048],"tags":[36042,5911,9093,539,28961,10394,1161,9094,102],"class_list":["post-369167","post","type-post","status-publish","format-standard","has-post-thumbnail","hentry","category-mma","tag-askrens","tag-ben","tag-chael","tag-details","tag-emotionally","tag-importance","tag-return","tag-sonnen","tag-wrestling"],"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