Ben Askren to Compete After Double Lung Transplant
Former UFC fighter and Olympic wrestler Ben Askren is set to return to competition after nearly seven years. This comes following a double lung transplant, a significant medical milestone for him.
For about a year, Askren has been reliant on a ventilator and ECMO, with his wife, Amy, recalling that he needed what she described as a “miracle.”
Well, it seems that miracle has arrived, and Askren’s comeback appears imminent.
He is scheduled to face ex-UFC welterweight champion Belal Muhammad in a wrestling match at the Real American Freestyle 11 event, taking place in Milwaukee on July 18—his 42nd birthday. Notably, this event was co-founded by the late superstar, Hulk Hogan.
Amy shared that Askren developed severe pneumonia rather abruptly last June and was eventually placed on life support. He was put on the transplant waiting list on June 24 and received his donor lungs shortly after.
Askren himself noted his memory from May 28 to July 2 was largely blank, and during his hospitalization, he lost about 50 pounds. He attributed his survival to resilience, stating, “I only died four times.” After 59 days in the hospital, he was discharged on July 22.
“It’s been tough, truly tough. I mentioned in a video how much support I’ve received, from GoFundMe help to friends traveling from all over just to see me. It’s meant a lot,” he reflected after coming home. “I really hope I won’t face anything like this for a long, long time. I’m determined to keep living.”
Interestingly, Askren shared that his near-death experience led him to convert to Christianity. “There were numerous times they thought I was gone,” he explained later. “When I woke up, I realized I needed to embrace faith, which felt strange since I had supported my wife’s faith for years without sharing it.”
Colby Covington, another former UFC fighter, is also confirmed to participate in this upcoming event.
At 41, Askren was a distinguished NCAA champion in his weight class in 2006 and 2007 and represented Team USA in the 2008 Olympics. He earned gold medals at the 2005 Pan American Championships and the 2009 World Championships. Transitioning to mixed martial arts in 2010, he began his journey with Bellator before moving on to ONE Championship and later the UFC.
He notably defeated Robbie Lawler by submission at UFC 235 but lost to Jorge Masvidal in a high-profile match. Askren retired from MMA in 2019, ending his career with three losses in the UFC and a composite record of 19-2.
In 2021, Askren engaged in a boxing match against Jake Paul.
