Chael Sonnen Questions Ben Askren's RAF 11 Return 1 Year After Double Lung Transplant
Updated
Updated · MMA Fighting · Jul 14
Chael Sonnen Questions Ben Askren's RAF 11 Return 1 Year After Double Lung Transplant
3 articles · Updated · MMA Fighting · Jul 14
Summary
Saturday’s RAF 11 co-main event in Milwaukee will send Ben Askren back into competition against Belal Muhammad, more than a year after pneumonia led to a double lung transplant.
Chael Sonnen, calling the event on FOX Nation, said Askren’s return initially made him “uncomfortable” even as he now also sees it as inspirational.
Nearly two months in the hospital preceded Askren’s recovery at home, where he has continued improving his health before taking the wrestling match.
Belal Muhammad, a former UFC welterweight champion, is making his second RAF appearance after a tech fall loss to David Carr at RAF 4 in December.
Sonnen said Muhammad deserves more credit for accepting the matchup, arguing the former champion helped make Askren’s comeback possible and has been treated unfairly by media.