Ex-MMA Star Ben Askren Survives Dramatic Lung Transplant

Ben Askren was in a coma, lost 50 kilos, and barely survived. Now he talks about his dramatic recovery.

The former MMA professional Ben Askren was admitted to a clinic in Wisconsin at the end of May 2025 due to severe pneumonia. His health condition deteriorated rapidly. In June, the 40-year-old had to be artificially ventilated and was finally placed on the list for a lung transplant on June 24.

Four Cardiac Arrests and Complete Memory Loss

As Askren described on Instagram, he lost around 50 kilograms of body weight during this time. Even more dramatic: In the six-week period he was in the hospital, he reportedly suffered four cardiac arrests. He has no memory of the events – only his wife Amy's diary gave him an impression afterward of how serious the situation was.

“It Was Like Experiencing My Own Funeral”

“I felt loved like never before,” Askren said in the video. The support of his family and friends deeply moved him. It was particularly touching for him to see how many people were concerned about his fate. His wife had regularly posted updates on social media and stood by him throughout the entire time.

Career as a Fighter and Retreat into Private Life

Ben Askren was a successful wrestler and represented the USA at the 2008 Olympic Games. He then switched to MMA and fought in organizations such as Bellator, ONE Championship, and UFC. He ended his career in 2019 with 19 wins, two losses, and one no contest. In 2021, he made a one-time appearance in the boxing ring against YouTuber Jake Paul and lost by TKO.

Rebuilding After the Transplant

Today, Askren lives in Wisconsin and runs a youth wrestling academy there. The path back to normality is still long. However, in his video, he made it clear that he is ready to fight his way back into life step by step.

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