Ben Askren’s Near-Fatal Battle: what happened to ben askren- Double Lung Transplant

Ex-MMA fighter Ben Askren was hospitalized with ‘life-threatening’ pneumonia, staph infection that ‘almost killed’ him After “dying four times,” he has had a double lung transplant, and is rebuilding his life. Read about his health journey, the support he received from the world of MMA, and what happens next.

🏁 From Wrestling Glory to Health Struggles

Undefeated welterweight, Ben Askren (18-0-1), is known professionally an American mixed martial artist and former Olympic wrestler, having won two NCAA wrestling, 2008 U.S. Olympian, dominant MMA welterweight champion in Bellator, ONE Championship and UFC, was born on July 18, 1984. Famed for his wrestling-heavy, unorthodox style and psychological warfare, he is a retired mixed martial artists with a 19–2 record who fought Jake Paul in a 2021 boxing exhibition.
In May 2025, Askren was hospitalized in Wisconsin with serious pneumonia as a result of a staph infection which caused damage to the lung tissue and resulted in respiratory failure. His wife, Amy, said he needed ventilator support, and also an ECMO (extracorporeal membrane oxygenation) machine.

⚠️ Health Crisis and Double Lung Transplant

By June, Askren was in critical condition and on a list for a donor. A week and a half later, he received a double lung transplant, during which he flatlined four times, its aftermath erasing his memory from May 28 to July 2, and he spent 45 days in a medically induced coma.
He lost about 50 pounds, weighing 147 lbs at release, his lightest since adolescence. In spite of the life-danger situation, the transplant of Askren was said to be success.

💬 Recovery & Public Updates

Askren was released on Day 59 and went home. He spoke candidly about trying to learn to walk again, requiring help and starting rehabilitation. Even the most basic things such as doing a 5-lb curl were hard and you knew he was really determined.
Meanwhile, in emotional social media posts, he saluted supporters — among them family, fans and colleagues in the M.M.A. industry. Askren made clear he joined to give financial and emotional support to Jason Paul and UFC President Dana White.

He is upbeat, claims he will live to a ripe old age, will be disciplined in his recovery, and will soon be back coaching wrestling in Wisconsin.

🧬 The Medical Context The Experts’ View

Staph infections that can’t be treated by antibiotics are still a threat in close-contact sports such as wrestling and MMA, particularly when the skin is broken and worn down from training. Staph-related pneumonia, experts caution, can progress very quickly to lung failure and fibrosis. Askren’s tale is a cautionary one for proactive sanitation protocols.

Ben Askren Released From Hospital After Lung Transplant | Click to read more 👇 https://t.co/jrChB2WhLl

— TMZ Sports (@TMZ_Sports) July 22, 2025

🧠 What’s Next for Askren?

Rehab and mobility : learning to breath, walk, and be a human again, physically strong; emphasis on pulmonary therapy and mental toughness.
Physical and emotional goal: “Within a month I’m going to be somewhere else,” he recently declared to cheers in a video message.
What’s next: There’s no immediate plan for a competitive return but he has said that he is “so passionate about coaching and giving back to the community.”

📈 Community Response & Support

The MMA and wrestling community came together in force for Askren: Dana White, Daniel Cormier, Henry Cejudo, and others took to Twitter and beyond with emotional videos and friendly messages. ) Social media fundraising efforts raised more than $500,000 — making his life-saving transplant possible.
Fake reports of Askren’s death swept across the Internet forcing his family to shut them down on social media. A report on the ground was even made by fellow fighter Caio Borralho.

🎬 Fan Logs & Personal Memories

Reading his wife’s journal helped Askren puzzle together what had happened over the six-week blackout. He described it as “like a movie,” struggling to digest the overwhelming support as if he was at his own funeral.
In later blog posts, he said he felt a passing anger at the condition he was in but embraced gratitude and motivation: “Why did my lungs get stolen from me? I can whine or I can build.”

🔍 Why This Matters

Askren’s journey transcends sports. It’s a prominent instance of post-infection complications even amongst elite athletes turning deadly. His experience also brings to the forefront the significance of staph and immune recovery, organ donation and lifelong chronic health vigilance.
His progress also brings hope to double-lung transplant recipients in the public eye. While they are statistically rare, successful recoveries with long-term vigor are being increasingly demonstrated and once again, proves the resilience of Askren.