Ben Askren Undergoes Double Lung Transplant

Former UFC fighter Ben Askren has received a double lung transplant, as shared by his wife on social media. Amy Askren took to Facebook to express her deep gratitude for the procedure, highlighting the donor and their family.

“This marks the start of a new chapter for Ben—a gift for every day moving forward,” she wrote. “It’s pretty hard to believe he was perfectly healthy just five weeks ago. Things can change so quickly.”

The 40-year-old was hospitalized on May 30 with a breathing tube, as noted by a friend, Mark Badder, who is also a commentator for Flowrestling. Askren had developed severe pneumonia and was believed to be dealing with a staphylococcal infection, according to reports.

Amy shared that there have been both good and challenging days throughout his health journey. Sometimes, he’s sedated, but he still manages to hold onto his loved ones’ hands. She’s been keeping followers updated, mentioning that he’s currently on a ventilator and ECMO. He was added to the transplant list on June 23.

“We hope Ben can share an update soon, but we really want him to wait until the medication subsides,” Amy concluded her post.

Askren, a two-time NCAA Division I Wrestling Champion and a member of the 2008 US Olympic team, left mixed martial arts in 2019. He had a notable MMA record of 19 wins and 2 losses.

In 2021, he faced off against YouTube personality Jake Paul in a boxing match, which ended in a first-round knockout in just under two minutes. There are calls from the community for support, with some asking for donations to aid his family during this difficult time.