Ben Askren laughs at Henry Cejudo gassing out in RAF loss: ‘You’ve got to get in there and train a little’

Ben Askren has publicly criticized fellow retired MMA champion Henry Cejudo's conditioning following their respective losses in RAF (Submission Underground's wrestling-focused combat sport) events.

Askren competed at RAF 11 on July 18, marking his first fight since undergoing a double-lung transplant after a life-threatening medical emergency. He lost a decision to former UFC welterweight champion Belal Muhammad. One week earlier, Cejudo suffered a dramatic collapse at RAF Georgia, squandering an 8-0 lead against Merab Dvalishvili and ultimately losing 11-8. Both men are now retired from MMA—Askren last fought in 2019, while Cejudo ended his career in 2025 following an 0-4 losing streak after returning from a three-year absence.

During an appearance on The MightyCast with Demetrious Johnson, Askren expressed disappointment in Cejudo's performance, noting that despite his own recent organ transplant, the Olympic gold medalist and former two-division UFC champion should have better conditioning. "I had a lung transplant so I think I've got an excuse for getting really tired, but my man got really tired," Askren said. He suggested Cejudo likely underestimated the demands of a full bout, expecting a quick finish and failing to train adequately for the distance.

Askren, a two-time NCAA Division I wrestling champion, understands RAF's unique challenges. He acknowledged his own fatigue in the Muhammad loss stemmed primarily from heart deconditioning—a lingering effect from months of limited physical activity during recovery—rather than lung function. The 154-pound Dvalishvili-Cejudo bout marked their second meeting; they previously squared off at UFC 298 in 2024, with another rematch scheduled for RAF 12 on August 22.

Askren emphasized that Cejudo came tantalizingly close, needing just one more wrestling turn to secure victory, suggesting poor pacing and preparation cost the former champion a winnable fight.