Ben Askren calls out Colby Covington over RAF 11 press conference

Ben Askren says Colby Covington crossed a line at the RAF 11 press conference in Milwaukee.

Askren, who returned to wrestling competition last weekend following a double-lung transplant before retiring after a loss to Belal Muhammad, took issue with Covington's comments ahead of the former UFC title challenger's scheduled RAF 12 match against Muhammad in Cleveland. Covington won the promotion's crossover belt by defeating Arman Tsarukyan at RAF 11.

Askren on Covington's wife comments

During the press conference, Covington mocked Askren's health and dismissed Muhammad's victory. He also made remarks about Muhammad's wife that Askren found objectionable. "If you watched what he said at the press conference on Friday about Belal, and specifically about Belal's wife, it was gross," Askren told Ariel Helwani, per MMA Mania. "It was just terrible human being stuff."

Askren acknowledged the role of trash talk in combat sports but said certain boundaries should remain. He noted that while he tries not to hold grudges, Covington's tendency to avoid complimenting others bothers him. "We're in show business, and I get the whole trash-talking thing, but don't bring Belal's wife into it," he said.

Covington is expected to face Muhammad at RAF 12 in what will be a high-profile crossover wrestling match between former UFC welterweights.

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• MMA Mania — Not-dead Ben Askren reacts to Colby Covington clown show at RAF 11 — ‘Terrible human-being stuff’