Ben Askren celebrates after defeating Robbie Lawler in a welterweight mixed martial arts bout at UFC 235 in 2019 in Las Vegas. (AP Photo)
Ben Askren, former UFC fighter and U.S. Olympic wrestler, has broken his silence with a deeply emotional update following his life-threatening health scare. The 40-year-old, known for his iron grit and dry humour, revealed he recently underwent a double lung transplant after a brutal battle with pneumonia and a staph infection.
In a heartfelt Instagram video posted Wednesday, Askren candidly spoke about the ordeal that left him fighting for his life—and, according to him, flatlining four times.
“It’s Like a Movie. It’s Ridiculous.”
Askren opened the video by saying he has no memory of the events between May 28 and July 2. “Zero idea what happened,” he said, adding that he had to piece together his experience by reading his wife Amy’s journal. “I only died four times, where the ticker stopped for about 20 seconds,” he added, with a small, trademark smirk. “That’s not ideal.”
The tone was light, but the reality was far from it. Askren dropped to just 147 pounds during his six-week hospital stay—weight he hadn’t seen since he was 15. He said he lost nearly 50 pounds in just 45 days. Now on the road to recovery, he’s relearning how to use his body and regaining strength one day at a time.
A Wife’s Strength, a Community’s Support
Amy Askren, Ben’s wife, was his rock through it all. She shared regular updates with fans and launched a fundraising campaign to help cover mounting medical expenses. Her journal—now a window into Ben’s lost weeks—became the roadmap that filled in the gaps.
Ben expressed profound gratitude for her strength and the overwhelming support they’ve received. “The thing that was most impactful for me was all the love I felt from everybody,” he said. “It was almost like I got to have my own funeral.”
Gratitude That Goes Beyond Words
Askren also gave a special shout-out to the wrestling community, which rallied behind him throughout his fight. “The outpouring of love was just amazing. It felt so good,” he said.
“I’m more motivated than ever to give back.”
Though his health is still fragile, his spirit is strong. He ended the video by promising that he and Amy might eventually share more about the journey—when the time is right.
From Fighter to Coach, and Now, Survivor
Ben Askren officially retired from professional fighting after his boxing match with Jake Paul in 2021. Since then, he’s devoted his time to coaching young wrestlers and building the next generation of champions.
Now, with a new lease on life and a pair of donated lungs, Askren’s comeback isn’t just about returning to the mat—it’s about living fully, giving back, and showing what resilience really looks like.
As he put it simply, “I made it out the other side.”
