In news that has stunned the combat sports world, former Olympic wrestler and MMA star Ben Askren revealed a harrowing health ordeal, confirming he recently underwent a double lung transplant after a severe case of pneumonia. The emotional update, shared by Askren himself from his hospital bed, has quickly become today’s major headline, drawing an outpouring of support from fans and fellow athletes.
Askren, 40, posted a video on social media Wednesday, July 9, 2025, detailing the terrifying experience that saw him hospitalized in Wisconsin for over a month. He admitted to having no recollection of events between May 28 and July 2, relying on his wife Amy’s journal entries to piece together the critical period.
“I only died four times,” Askren stated in the video, describing moments where his heart stopped for approximately 20 seconds. The severe pneumonia, stemming from a staph infection, rapidly deteriorated, leading to him being placed on a ventilator in June and subsequently added to the donor list for a lung transplant on June 24.
The successful double lung transplant was performed in late June. Askren, visibly gaunt, shared that he lost a staggering 50 pounds in 45 days, dropping to a weight he hasn’t seen since he was 15 years old. “I haven’t been this light since high school wrestling. That’s kind of crazy,” he joked, despite the severity of his condition.
While still in recovery, Askren expressed profound gratitude for the immense love and support he received from the wrestling and MMA communities. He likened the experience to “having my own funeral” where he could witness the outpouring of affection, something he found deeply impactful.
Ben Askren’s illustrious career includes back-to-back NCAA wrestling titles at Missouri, competing in the 2008 Summer Olympics, and holding welterweight championships in both Bellator and ONE Championship before a brief stint in the UFC. He retired from MMA in 2019 and made a return to combat sports for a boxing match against Jake Paul in 2021. Currently, he runs a youth wrestling academy in Wisconsin.
This brave and candid update from “Funky” Ben Askren serves as a stark reminder of life’s fragility and the incredible resilience of the human spirit. The entire combat sports community is rooting for his continued and full recovery.
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