Milwaukee: Former UFC fighter and U.S. Olympian Ben Askren is recovering in a Wisconsin hospital following a double lung transplant prompted by a severe case of pneumonia, the 40-year-old said in a video posted to social media on Wednesday.
Askren, who was placed on a ventilator and donor waitlist in June, shared that he has limited memory of the month-long ordeal between May 28 and July 2, which included multiple near-death episodes and a weight loss of nearly 50 pounds.
“No recollection, zero idea, no idea what happened,” Askren said in an Instagram video. “I only died four times, where the ticker stopped for about 20 seconds.”
— Funky 🇺🇸🇺🇸🇺🇸 (@Benaskren) July 9, 2025
His wife, Amy Askren, chronicled his condition in a private journal, which Askren described as “like a movie.” He thanked the wrestling and fight communities for their overwhelming support.
“It was almost like I got to have my own funeral,” he said. “The outpouring of love from the wrestling community was just amazing.”
Askren was diagnosed with pneumonia, followed by a staph infection, according to family updates shared on social media. He underwent the lung transplant after being added to the donor list on June 24.
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Decorated Wrestling Career and MMA Legacy
Born in Cedar Rapids, Iowa, Askren is a two-time NCAA Division I national wrestling champion and a 2008 Olympian. He won welterweight titles in Bellator and ONE Championship before signing with the UFC, compiling a professional MMA record of 19-2 (1 NC) before retiring in 2019.
In 2021, Askren briefly returned to the spotlight in a high-profile boxing match against YouTuber-turned-fighter Jake Paul, losing by first-round TKO in a bout that drew over 500,000 pay-per-view buys.
Future Plans: ‘More Motivated Than Ever’
Now weighing 147 pounds and regaining strength, Askren said he intends to stay active in the fight world.
“I’m more motivated than ever to get back and do what I can to help,” he said. “This has been tough, not only for me, but for my whole family and community.”
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Askren runs a youth wrestling academy in Wisconsin and remains a prominent voice in U.S. wrestling circles. He said he may share more details about his recovery journey in the future alongside his wife.
