Former Olympic and UFC wrestler Ben Askren has spoken out about a very personal and potentially life-threatening illness that resulted in a double lung transplant and brought him to the edge of death. In an open video from his hospital bed posted on Wednesday, the 40-year-old disclosed gruesome details of his recent fight for his life.
Askren indicated that he has no memory at all of June. “It was like watching my own funeral,” he said, noting that he realized the seriousness of his condition only after reading journal entries written by his wife, Amy.
The MMA veteran revealed that doctors admitted him to the hospital with severe pneumonia and revived him four times during the ordeal. He even made light of one scary moment when his heart ceased functioning for 20 seconds, quipping, “Not ideal, I don’t know if you guys know that.”
🚨 Ben Askren releases first public statement following his health difficulties resulting in a double lung transplant
“I don’t remember anything from May 28th to July 2nd”
“I only died 4 times” pic.twitter.com/jWYYDSxVvu
— Combat Casuals (@Combat_Casuals) July 9, 2025
In a period of 45 days, Askren lost around 50 pounds, falling to 147 pounds—his lightest since he was 15 years old, a TMZ report revealed.
Support from MMA and Wrestling Fans
Askren also cherished the amazing support he received from fans and peers. “The outpouring of love from the wrestling community it’s just amazing. It felt so good,” he affirmed. “The thing that was most impactful for me was all the love I felt from everybody.”
During his battle with health, his wife Amy kept his fans updated through constant posts. With Askren now able to speak for himself, he reports that he is getting stronger by the day.
From Olympian to Survivor
Famous for his successful stints in Bellator, ONE Championship, and UFC, Ben Askren is a household name in wrestling as well as MMA. From Olympian to professional combatant to survivor, Askren’s transition is a story of his strength.
Recovering is an ongoing process, but Askren’s resilience and sense of humor during hard times are inspiring millions globally.
