Ben Askren’s Life-Threatening Battle with Pneumonia: Heart Stopped 4 Times
Ben Askren Shares Health Update After Double Lung Transplant
Former UFC fighter and Bellator champion Ben Askren recently posted a video on Instagram, giving fans an update on his health. The 40-year-old had a double lung transplant just over a week ago after suffering from severe pneumonia caused by a staph infection.
In the video, Askren opened up about how serious his condition was. He mentioned that he lost around 50 pounds in just 45 days and that his heart stopped several times during the worst moments of his illness.
“I haven’t updated you all in a while,” Askren said. “I figured it was time. I recently read my wife’s journal because I don’t remember anything from May 28 to July 2 — completely blank. It was like reading a movie script.”
Askren revealed that his heart stopped four times, each time for about 20 seconds. Despite all this, he says he’s now recovering and slowly gaining strength. He currently weighs 147 pounds, the lowest he’s been since he was a teenager.
“This has been one of the biggest fights of my life,” he said. “But I made it through the transplant and now I’m focused on healing.”
Askren, who lives in Wisconsin with his wife and three children, received a flood of support from fans, fighters, and the wrestling and MMA communities once news of his health issues became public.
“The love and support I felt from everyone was amazing,” he added. “It honestly felt like I got to witness my own funeral, in a good way. So many people reached out—it meant a lot.”
He said the journey has been hard not only for him but also for his family and close friends. Askren hopes to share more details about the experience later with his wife, Amy.
A Look Back at Askren’s Career
Ben Askren started his athletic career as a wrestler, representing the U.S. in the 2008 Olympics. After that, he moved into MMA and made a big impact, winning the Bellator Season 2 Welterweight Tournament and becoming Bellator’s welterweight champion in 2010.
After four successful title defenses, he signed with ONE Championship, where he also became welterweight champ. At one point, his MMA record was an impressive 18-0.
Askren later joined the UFC through a rare deal that involved trading Demetrious Johnson to ONE Championship. He won his UFC debut against Robbie Lawler, but later suffered back-to-back losses to Jorge Masvidal and Demian Maia, which led to his retirement from MMA in 2019.
In 2021, he returned for one final fight — a boxing match against YouTuber-turned-boxer Jake Paul. Askren was knocked out in the first round and has not fought professionally since.
Ben Askren’s recent health scare was life-threatening, but he’s now on the road to recovery. Despite the challenges, he remains thankful and optimistic, promising to share more about his journey when the time is right.
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