Ben Askren’s return to combat sports competition at Real American Freestyle (RAF) 11 is more than just another match; it’s one of the most remarkable comeback stories in history. Just over a year after battling a life-threatening illness that resulted in the former Bellator and ONE Championship welterweight champion needing a double-lung transplant, the wrestling legend will step back onto the mat one last time for what he says will be his final competitive appearance. His comeback has transformed RAF 11 from a strong wrestling card into a must-watch event for fans around the world.
Askren will face former UFC welterweight champion Belal Muhammad in the co-main event of RAF 11 in Milwaukee, Wisconsin. While the matchup carries plenty of intrigue from a competitive standpoint, the biggest story will be Askren’s resilience. Few athletes have overcome the physical and emotional challenges that he has faced over the past year, making his willingness to compete again an inspiring moment that extends well beyond just the wrestling community.
As a two-time NCAA Division I national champion and 2008 U.S. Olympian, Askren built his reputation as one of the greatest wrestlers of his generation before enjoying a successful career in MMA. Whether you’re tuning in for the emotional comeback or the high-level wrestling from other former MMA title contenders and champions like Colby Covington, Arman Tsarukyan, Frankie Edgar and Clay Guida, the Sporting News has got you covered with everything you need to know to bet on the event including odds, picks and predictions ahead of what should be an emotional night.
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How to bet on RAF 11
Betting on the Real American Freestyle (RAF11) event is similar to betting on MMA or boxing. If the sport is offered by a licensed sportsbook in your jurisdiction, here’s what the step-by-step process will likely look like:
- Open an account with a licensed sportsbook that offers RAF markets (availability depends on where you live).
- Deposit funds
- Find the RAF11 event in the sportsbook’s combat sports or wrestling section
- Select a market such as match winner, method of victory, total rounds/time or other prop bets if offered.
- Enter your stake, review the potential payout and confirm the wager.
MORE: Everything to know about betting on MMA
Best RAF sportsbook promo
New users can claim a welcome bonus for $200 in bonuses if they bet $5 on the RAF 11 card. Existing users should always check frequently for additional promotions, as DraftKings will often offer profit boosts, odds boosts and other promotions.
Ben Askren vs. Belal Muhammad odds
| Fighter | Odds |
| Ben Askren | +1000 |
| Belal Muhammad | -3000 |
Ben Askren vs. Belal Muhammad prediction
In Ben Askren’s return to competition, the former UFC fighter and two-time NCAA Division I national champion will face former UFC welterweight champion Belal Muhammad in RAF 11 in Milwaukee, Wisconsin.
Askren’s return to the wrestling mats in nothing short of a miracle after the fighter was hospitalized last year with a severe case of pneumonia that developed as a result of a staph infection. Askren later revealed that he nearly died four times before eventually getting a double lung transplant that saved his life.
Now the legend is preparing to wrestle in front of his home state crowd and win or lose it will still be a monumental feat to see him compete once again. The 40 year old has mentioned that the match will be a one-time thing, and he is not planning on wrestling again after the RAF 11 co-main event. Muhhammad should be able to defeat Askren easily given Askren’s age and long-term layoff from wrestling competition. However, Askren making the walk to the ring is a victory enough in itself.
Ben Askren vs. Belal Muhammad best bet
Belal Muhammad to win is the only reasonable option here. It’s not completely out of the question that Askren could win, but it’s highly doubtful. This fight is more of a showcase of resilience for Askren than anything competitive. Askren may be able to hang in there for a while, but a win is an almost certainty for the former welterweight champion. At these odds, though the best bet is probably to just pass. DraftKings currently is only offering moneyline odds, so this would be a stay-away unless you’re including it in a parlay.
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Colby Covington vs. Arman Tsarukyan odds
| Fighter | Odds |
| Colby Covington | +400 |
| Arman Tsarukyan | -650 |
Colby Covington vs. Arman Tsarukyan prediction
Tsarukyan is by far the best wrestler in the entire promotion. He is 7-0 in RAF matches this year and loves to score in bursts, hunting falls. He has more freestyle wrestling experience than anyone else on the roster, and while Covington is a legitimate Division I wrestler with wins over Luke Rockhold and Chris Weidman, he was recently released from the UFC and has not competed at the level or pace of Tsarukyan before. The only thing stopping Tsarukyan would be his quick six-day turnaround from his last match against Kuat Khamitov. If Tsarukyan starts off flat, Covington could have a path to victory.
Colby Covington vs. Arman Tsarukyan best bet
The best bet here is to take Arman to win, and at -650 that is a good price. Tsarukyan is much younger and better at freestyle wrestling than Covington. The only path to victory Covington has is by a low-scoring grind since technically he is the fresher guy heading into this match. That shouldn’t stop Tsarukyan though who continues to prove why he is one of the best active combat sports athletes in the world right now.
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Frankie Edgar vs. Clay Guida odds
| Fighter | Odds |
| Frankie Edgar | -450 |
| Clay Guida | +300 |
Frankie Edgar vs. Clay Guida prediction
In a wrestling match between two MMA veterans both past 40 years old, this match should be competitive. Both have a scholastic wrestling background but might not have the skill to match current freestyle form. Edgar is the far more credentialed wrestler, and his only loss in RAF came against one of the best in combat sports, Merab Dvalishvilli. The only thing Guida probably has going for him is his pace, which will matter less in a wrestling match than it did over the standard three MMA rounds.
Frankie Edgar vs. Clay Guida best bet
I would take Edgar on the moneyline (-450). If method of victory becomes available, it will likely be by narrow decision. It will be safe to expect a low-scoring scrappy match in a battle between two of the most experienced wrestlers on the card.
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Full RAF 11 card
- Catchweight Main Event: Arman Tsarukyan vs. Colby Covington
- Cruiserweight Co-Main Event: Ben Askren vs. Belal Muhammad
- Strawweight Title Match: Lucia Yepez vs. Felicity Taylor
- Lightweight Bout: Clay Guida vs. Frankie Edgar
- Cruiserweight Bout: Ben Davino vs. Arsen Harutyunyan
- Middleweight Bout: Keegan O’Toole vs. Christopher Minto
- Cruiserweight Bout: Skylar Grote vs. Adeline Gray
- Light Heavyweight Bout: Trent Hidlay vs. Magomedkhan Magomedov
- Cruiserweight Bout: Aeoden Sinclair vs. Magomed Ramazanov
- Light Heavyweight Bout: Pat Downey vs. Zac Braunagel
- Heavyweight Bout: Anthony Cassioppi vs. Mostafa Elders
- Welterweight Bout: Michael Caliendo vs. Mirzo Khayitov
Best sportsbook for RAF 11
DraftKings Sportsbook is probably the strongest overall choice. It has been among the first major U.S. sportsbooks to post odds for RAF events and typically offers the deepest selection of combat sports markets and often adds alternate lines and live betting as the event approaches.
RAF 11 betting FAQ
Where can you bet on RAF 11?
DraftKings Sportsbook is the only current platform that actively has betting odds on the RAF 11 fight. All of the other sportsbooks including FanDuel, BetMGM, Caesars, bet365 and Fanatics do not have odds available at this moment.
What are the most popular betting markets for RAF?
The most popular betting markets for RAF11 are similar to those offered for MMA and boxing events. The exact menu will vary based on the sportsbook, but the markets you’ll see most often are
- Moneyline (Match winner)
- Method of Victory
- Winning Margin/Point Spread
- Total Match Points
- Parlays
Can you bet on Ben Askren’s debut fight?
Yes, you can bet on Ben Askren’s Real American Freestyle debut. DraftKings Sportsbook is currently the only sportsbook that has odds on the RAF 11 event. Askren is currently a +1000 underdog to former UFC welterweight champion Belal Muhhamad in the co-main event match.
Can you parlay RAF 11 bets?
Right now, there is no way to parlay RAF1 bets in a same-game parlay. However, you can parlay multiple moneylines on the main event card to make a good parlay for the event.
Can you live bet RAF 11?
As of now there are no live bets available for the RAF 11 wrestling event. Bettors can place their best up until the start of the 8 p.m. ET main card. Once bets are placed the odds are locked in and do not change.
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