Former UFC fighter and Bellator champion Ben Askren has shared a dramatic health update just over a week after undergoing a double lung transplant. In a video posted on Instagram, Askren detailed his recovery from a severe bout of pneumonia, revealing that he lost approximately 50 pounds in just 45 days and that his heart stopped several times during his critical illness. He mentioned, “I only died four times were the ticker stopped for about 20 seconds. That’s not ideal… But, I got the double lung transplant and made it to the other side of it. Gaining quite a bit of strength. Learning to use everything again…”
[1]
Askren noted that he has little memory of what happened between May 28 and July 2, recounting how he had to read his wife’s journal to piece together the events. At one point, his weight dropped to 147 pounds, the lowest he has been since he was 15 years old. Despite the physical challenges, Askren expressed gratitude for being on the path to recovery[1].
This health scare follows his retirement from MMA in 2019, after a storied career that saw him defend titles in Bellator and ONE Championship, and compete in the UFC. He later made a foray into boxing in 2021, facing Jake Paul in a bout he lost by first-round TKO[1].
Askren’s story has garnered widespread attention across social media, with significant coverage from the MMA community and sports media, as fans and fellow athletes send him messages of support and admiration for his resilience[2][4][5].
References
- [1] Ben Askren shares health update after pneumonia, double lung transplant: ‘I only died four times’ – CBSSports.com
- [2] Ben Askren says he has lost 50 LBS in 45 days dealing with severe pneumonia – Instagram (Bleacher Report)
- [4] Ben Askren provided an update on his health after receiving a double lung transplant – Instagram (ESPN MMA)
- [5] Ben Askren gives an emotional first update after lung transplant surgery – Instagram (MMA Junkie)