“He died five times” – Colby Covington concerned about Ben Askren’s RAF debut barely a year after double lung transplant

Barely a year after his double lung transplant, Ben Askren is set to compete at RAF 11. Colby Covington, for one, does not think it is a smart idea.

Askren is set to face former UFC welterweight champion Belal Muhammad in a special one-off comeback bout at RAF 11 on July 18 at the UWM Panther Arena in Milwaukee, Wisconsin. The match comes just over a year after ‘Funky’ underwent a life-saving double lung transplant.

In 2025, Askren contracted a staph infection that later developed into pneumonia. The infection rapidly spread to his lungs, leaving him in need of a life-saving double lung transplant.

The fighter underwent the procedure on June 30, 2025. Since then, he has been focused on his recovery.

Covington, who is set to headline RAF 11 against Arman Tsarukyan, is not a fan of Askren returning to the wrestling mats so soon after enduring a life-threatening health scare. Speaking to MMA Fighting in a recent interview, Covington said:

“I don’t love it… 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 who 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.”

The former interim welterweight champion added:

“If he gets dropped the wrong way on one of those double lung transplants, you never know what’s gonna happen. 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, put Arman’s a**… If you ask me, I don’t like it.”

Check Colby Covington’s comments on Ben Askren’s return below:

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Chael Sonnen shares his take on Ben Askren’s wrestling return at RAF 11

During an interview with MMA Fighting, UFC Hall of Famer Chael Sonnen admitted that he was initially uncomfortable with Ben Askren’s decision to return to the wrestling mats at RAF 11.

At the same time, Sonnen said he had come to understand why Askren’s return is ultimately inspirational. However, what impressed him even more was Belal Muhammad stepping up to ensure Askren had the opportunity to compete:

“When I read about it, it was supposed to be exciting; it was supposed to be inspirational. And I am getting there, by the way. It is exciting, it is inspirational, but I was uncomfortable at first. And I thought, what a stud Belal Muhammad is for taking this. I don’t think very many people would have taken this risk. And Belal realized one thing, which is, if I don’t do this, Ben doesn’t get the opportunity.”