Ben Askren is the recipient of a double lung transplant, wife Amy Askren announced on Monday.
The former UFC star, who claimed welterweight gold in both ONE Championship and Bellator MMA, has been hospitalized for weeks, fighting a serious battle against pneumonia. Askren’s wife had previously revealed that a lung transplant was a strong possibility, one that has now come to pass.
“We are so thankful to share that Ben has received a double lung transplant. We are forever thankful to the donor and his family. This is the beginning of a new lifestyle for Ben, but every new day he has is a gift,” Amy Askren wrote in a brief statement posted to social media. “It still doesn’t feel real that he was walking around completely healthy just 5 weeks ago. So much can change so quickly. Please keep Ben in your prayers that his body welcomes the new lungs as if they were his own. I am constantly in awe of all the people carrying us through right now. I can’t wait to tell Ben all about it.”
“I’m hopeful that in the coming weeks Ben will be able to give the next update, but hopefully he will wait until the drugs wear off.”
Askren retired from mixed martial arts in 2019, finishing his career with a record of 19-2, 1NC. The former NCAA Division I wrestling champion returned to combat sports in 2021, losing a boxing match against Youtuber Jake Paul. More recently, he’s appeared on the Funky and the Champ podcast opposite Daniel Cormier.
The fighter’s family are accepting donations via Help Hope Live to cover the procedure.
