Chael Sonnen opens up on Ben Askren's wrestling return at RAF 11

Chael Sonnen has publicly admitted that Ben Askren's announcement of a wrestling return at RAF 11 was not the news he initially wanted to hear, revealing his first reaction was discomfort rather than enthusiasm.

Sonnen, 49, is a veteran of the sport with a professional MMA record of 29-15-1. The six-foot-one southpaw out of Team Quest built his career as one of the most relentless grapplers in the middleweight and light heavyweight divisions, averaging 3.81 takedowns per 15 minutes over his career. He acknowledged on the record that his instinct was not the inspirational response the Askren news was designed to generate, though he noted his feelings are beginning to move in a more positive direction.

Askren, 41, carries a 19-2-0 professional record and is widely regarded as one of the most decorated wrestlers to have competed in MMA. The five-foot-eleven orthodox fighter, who trains with Roufusport, averaged 4.33 takedowns per 15 minutes during his MMA career and landed significant strikes at a rate of 3.64 per minute with 49 percent accuracy. Known by the nickname Funky, Askren built his reputation on smothering, chain-wrestling pressure that neutralized opponents before he ever needed to throw a punch.

Why it matters

• Askren's return to competitive wrestling at RAF 11 marks a notable moment for a fighter who stepped away from active competition
• Sonnen's candid reaction reflects the complicated emotions veteran fighters can have when peers re-enter the spotlight
• Askren's elite grappling pedigree, reflected in his career takedown numbers, means any return draws genuine attention from across the combat sports world
• Sonnen's willingness to share an honest, mixed reaction rather than a reflexive endorsement adds weight to the story