Ben Askren and Colby Covington shared a Actual American Freestyle card final weekend, however their long-running UFC pressure was nonetheless evident away from the mat. Askren mentioned Covington’s remarks about Belal Muhammad and Muhammad’s spouse crossed a line he doesn’t wish to be round.
Askren and Covington each competed at RAF 11 final weekend, sharing a card that additionally saved their UFC-era pressure in view. Askren wrestled former UFC welterweight champion Belal Muhammad within the co-main occasion, dropping 6-3 in what he described as his remaining wrestling match.
Ben Askren Explains Why He Is Preserving His Distance From Colby Covington After RAF 11
The US-born wrestler mentioned he tries to not carry resentment however has little curiosity in rebuilding a relationship with Covington. “I attempt to not maintain grudges, however Colby simply rubs me the mistaken means as a result of he doesn’t say good issues about individuals,” Askren mentioned.
The previous Bellator champion pointed to Covington’s feedback throughout Friday’s RAF 11 press convention. “When you watched what he mentioned on the press convention on Friday about Belal, and particularly about Belal’s spouse, it was gross,” Askren mentioned. “It was simply horrible human-being stuff.”
On the RAF 11 pre-event press convention, Covington mocked Muhammad’s look earlier than insulting Muhammad’s spouse, who’s the mom of his youngster. Covington first congratulated Muhammad on turning into a father, then requested, “Who the f— allow you to hit?” He continued by calling Muhammad “one of many ugliest” individuals he had seen and mentioned Muhammad’s companion “should seem like a gargoyle,” a comment that triggered Muhammad’s anger and later drew Askren’s criticism.
The 42-year-old Askren is an NCAA Division I Wrestler who additionally represented america within the Olympics. He not too long ago obtained a double lung transplant.
Askren acknowledged that fighters typically promote occasions by means of verbal battles, however he drew a agency line round households. “We’re in present enterprise, and I get the entire trash-talking factor, however don’t convey Belal’s spouse into it,” he mentioned. “I feel numerous the issues he does are simply sort of gross.”
RAF 11 positioned each males in the identical promotion’s orbit, with Covington competing in opposition to UFC light-weight contender Arman Tsarukyan and Askren going through Belal Muhammad.
Colby Covington Doesn’t Care For Ben Askren Both
Covington has a distinct studying of the scenario. He mentioned he’s keen to go away the rivalry up to now and credited Askren for his function with the rising wrestling promotion. “I’m keen to take the excessive street, and I’m simply grateful for Ben and him being behind the scenes at RAF,” Covington mentioned.
Nonetheless, Covington admitted the dynamic has not totally cooled. “Undoubtedly, you may nonetheless see some friction there,” he mentioned. “For no matter cause, Ben doesn’t like me.”
Covington framed their points by means of the lens of their UFC years, when each had been established names at welterweight however by no means met contained in the Octagon. “We had been the fiercest of rivals within the UFC,” Covington mentioned. “He wished all the pieces that I had, however sadly, he fell somewhat quick.”
The previous interim UFC welterweight champion added that he holds no in poor health will towards the Olympic wrestler. “That doesn’t imply that I don’t nonetheless need him to succeed,” Covington mentioned. “I’m grateful to have headlined a card with him.”
Askren, in the meantime, doesn’t seem interested by extending the dialog. “He can select to try this, however I’m most likely not going to work together with him as a result of I simply don’t see the purpose,” he mentioned.
