UFC veteran Ben Askren spoke publicly for the first time Wednesday since being hospitalized in early June with a life-threatening case of pneumonia, which ultimately led to him undergoing a successful double lung transplant.
Askren’s wife, Amy Askren, has periodically provided updates on her husband’s condition and the process they’ve endured during his health scare since it was first revealed on June 6. After weeks of sedation and a period in “limbo,” Amy’s updates indicated that her husband was in need of a double lung transplant.
Following the successful surgery, a noticeably gaunt and emotional Askren posted a video to Instagram addressing everything that’s occurred over the past several weeks.
The 40-year-old Askren began his MMA career 19-0 and most notably held the welterweight titles in Bellator MMA and ONE Championship. In 2019, he was a part of the first and only “MMA trade,” which saw him swap from ONE with Demetrious Johnson to join the UFC roster. Askren only fought three times for the promotion, all in 2019, before hip injuries ultimately led to his retirement.
Since then, Askren has competed once in a pro boxing debut opposite Jake Paul in 2021, but has largely focused on his coaching career at his Askren Wrestling Academy in Wisconsin.