Former Olympic wrestler and UFC fighter Ben Askren says his heart stopped four times, leading to him receiving a double lung transplant.

Askren is on the road to recovery after undergoing a double lung transplant and losing more than 50 lbs. during his illness

Ben stepped down from professional mixed martial arts in 2019, and he suffered from a serious health crisis in 2025. Learn more about the decorated ex-fighter and wrestler.

Ben Askren gave an update on his health a month after the MMA fighter was hospitalized with a severe case of pneumonia, sharing that reading his wife's recollection of the ordeal is "like a movie."

Olympic wrestler and former UFC fighter, Ben Askren, will be honored in his hometown as he faces a serious health challenge.

Ben Askren feels like he's attended his own funeral – but he hasn't. He's still alive. And not only that, he's now talking. In an emotional video posted to his social media account Wednesday, Askren provided a health update himself for the first time since he was hospitalized with a severe case of pneumonia that ultimately led to a lung transplant.

Former UFC fighter and ex-Bellator and ONE champion Ben Askren knows he is lucky just to be alive. Askren is currently recovering following a double lung transplant. Askren suffered severe pneumonia that became a staph infection. He was placed on life support but provided his first public comments recently.

The latest update from Amy Askren, the former UFC star’s wife, was a positive one last week as she confirmed he had been given a double lung transplant. The expensive surgery wasn’t covered by their insurance, but the family received support from the fight world through online donations.