Ben Askren is expected to make an inspirational return to the wrestling mat this weekend at RAF 11, but some people believe it’s too soon for the former UFC fighter. This includes the always critical Colby Covington, who is headlining RAF 11 against UFC lightweight contender Arman Tsarukyan.
Some might think it’s too soon for Askren to return to athletic competition, but the 41-year-old is doing exactly that as he meets former UFC welterweight champion Belal Muhammad this weekend at RAF 11. It will be just over a year removed from his death-defying hospital visit and easily one of the most incredible stories of 2026. The move is risky to say the least, but if Askren wasn’t healthy enough to compete he wouldn’t have been given the green light to do so.
However, just because Askren is cleared to get back on the wrestling mat doesn’t mean it’s the best idea at this time. This is according to Covington, who is worried that something might happen to “Funky” in his main card matchup with Muhammad.
Check it out below and let us know if you have any concerns for Askren this weekend at RAF 11!
”I don’t love it,” Covington told MMA Fighting earlier this week. “He’s a family man. He’s a father. He’s a brother. He’s a son. He’s all these great things to people in his life that are close to him. I think that it’s not a smart thing to push him back on that mat. He died five times less than a year ago. So I don’t like it.”
“If he gets dropped the wrong way on one of those double lung transplants, you never know what’s gonna happen,” he added. “So I’m just hoping for safety for him this weekend. All I care about is that he gets to the mat safe and I can go out there for the main event and whoop Arman’s ass.”
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