For the first time since undergoing a life-saving double lung transplant, Ben Askren is publicly speaking about his health battle.
The former MMA star—best known for his runs in the UFC and as a Bellator champion—faced a medical crisis after being hospitalized with severe pneumonia. Throughout much of his hospital stay, Askren was largely unresponsive, with his wife Amy sharing that he was only intermittently conscious as doctors fought to keep him alive. Eventually, a double lung transplant became necessary—and successful.
Now in recovery, Askren is awake, responsive, and beginning to open up about the ordeal that nearly cost him his life.
“I just read through my wife’s journal because I don’t remember anything from May 28 to July 2,” Askren revealed in a video posted to Instagram. “No recollection. No idea. No idea what happened. I just read through my wife’s journals and it’s like a movie. It’s ridiculous.”
Askren recounted that his condition became so dire, his heart stopped on multiple occasions as medical staff worked urgently to revive him. With his body under extreme stress, he experienced dramatic weight loss during his time in the hospital—long before he was stable enough to undergo the double lung transplant that ultimately saved his life.
“I only died four times where the ticker stopped for about 20 seconds,” Askren said. “That’s not ideal. But I got the double lung transplant. I made it out the other side of it. Gaining quite a bit of strength, learning to use everything again.
“I was actually on the scale yesterday — 147 pounds. I haven’t been 147 pounds since I was 15 years old. So that’s like 50 pounds [lost] in a 45-day period. That was a battle. I don’t remember most of it.”
Askren’s road to recovery is far from over, and he has yet to share how long he expects to remain in the hospital following his transplant. While full recovery from a double lung transplant can take several months, the most dangerous window is the initial post-surgery phase, when patients face the highest risk of complications like infection or organ rejection.
Despite the uncertainty ahead, the former Olympic wrestler and MMA standout took time to reflect on the outpouring of support he received throughout his ordeal. He expressed deep appreciation for the flood of messages and encouragement from fans, friends, and fellow fighters during what he called the most challenging chapter of his life.
“The thing that was most impactful to me was all the love I felt from everybody,” Askren said. “It was almost like I got to have my own funeral. I still remember 30 years ago, Dave Schultz died, you would listen to all these older people recollect, and how much they enjoyed him, how much they loved him, and obviously he never got to hear that. The outpouring of love from the wrestling community is just amazing. It felt so good.
“I love you guys. I appreciate you guys. It’s been tough, not only on me but my whole family and my close community. I appreciate everything.”
