Ben Askren Gives First Public Health Update After Life-Threatening Illness & Double Lung Transplant (2025)
Former MMA standout Ben Askren — an iconic figure in wrestling and mixed martial arts — has shared a heartfelt health update with fans, revealing details of his recovery after a near-fatal medical crisis earlier in 2025. Askren’s first message directly to supporters came following a successful double lung transplant and weeks of hospitalization that began with severe pneumonia.
From Critical Condition to Speaking Again: Askren’s Journey
In early June 2025, Askren was rushed to the hospital in critical condition after contracting a severe case of pneumonia that developed from a staph infection. His wife, Amy, publicly shared that he was sedated and fighting for his life, eventually being placed on a ventilator and requiring an extracorporeal membrane oxygenation (ECMO) machine as his lungs deteriorated.
Askren’s roommate and former UFC rival Chael Sonnen later confirmed that Askren was alive and receiving prayers and support from the MMA community.
Double Lung Transplant & Surviving the Unthinkable
On June 30, 2025, Askren underwent a double lung transplant — a drastic but life-saving procedure after his lungs were overwhelmed by the infection. His wife announced the successful surgery, expressing gratitude to the donor and the medical team.
In a video message shared on Instagram in July 2025, Askren spoke publicly for the first time since the surgery. He described how he had no memory of several weeks of his ordeal, saying he “didn’t remember anything from May 28 to July 2,” and recounted that his heart had stopped multiple times during his hospital stay.
He revealed that he had lost roughly 50 pounds in about six weeks and had not weighed as little as 147 pounds since his mid-teens. Despite the severity of his condition, Askren spoke with gratitude and optimism, emphasizing how much the outpouring of support from fans, friends, and the combat sports community meant to him and his family.
Discharged & Continuing Recovery at Home
After spending about 59 days in the hospital, Askren was finally released and returned home with his wife in July 2025. In another update, he acknowledged that his recovery was far from over — specifically mentioning that he had to relearn basic movements like walking, a challenge he is facing with determination.
A subsequent social post in August 2025 showed Askren again being discharged from the hospital after a secondary health setback, this time related to an infection discovered during a check-up. In that update he humorously wrote that he had “escaped again” and hoped this stay at home would be permanent, showing continued resilience and spirit.
Askren’s Message to Fans & the MMA Community
Throughout his recovery, Askren has openly shared his condition and emotions. His July video updates were marked by sincere gratitude:
“The thing that was most impactful to me was all the love I felt from everybody … the outpouring of love from the wrestling community was just amazing.”
— Ben Askren (Instagram, 2025)
Askren also reflected on how the support felt like having a “funeral I got to attend myself,” recognizing the depth of emotion from those who care about him.
What This Means Going Forward
Ben Askren — an NCAA wrestling champion, Bellator and ONE Championship titleholder, and former UFC fighter — now faces a long road of rehabilitation. While he is home and improving step by step, learning to walk again and regain strength remains a significant part of his recovery.
Despite the hardships, Askren’s public updates have been marked by humor, humility, and a clear appreciation of the support that’s carried him through one of the toughest chapters of his life.
Background: Askren’s Legendary Combat Sports Career
Before his health battle, Askren was one of the most accomplished wrestlers and MMA fighters of his generation. A two-time NCAA Division I wrestling champion and Olympic freestyle competitor, he enjoyed championship reigns in Bellator and ONE Championship before joining the UFC in 2019. He retired from MMA later that year and later stepped into professional boxing in 2021.
Ben Askren’s latest updates paint a picture of a fighter who has faced perhaps the toughest battle of his life — not inside the cage, but against a devastating medical crisis. From critical hospitalization and a double lung transplant to now speaking to fans and continuing rehabilitation at home, Askren has shown the same perseverance that once made him a standout in wrestling and MMA. His journey continues, but so does the support of the combat sports world.