Ben Askren’s Journey of Faith and Recovery

Former UFC fighter Ben Askren recently shared his transformative experience after waking up from a medically induced coma. He underwent a double lung transplant due to a severe case of pneumonia and has turned to faith during his recovery.

In a recent interview with Flowrestling, Askren recounted the moment he woke up from the coma and made the decision to become a Christian. “There were many times when they thought I was dead. It’s like I died and came back. I just woke up and thought, ‘I’m a Christian now.’ It’s definitely a strange experience,” he reflected.

Askren also mentioned that prior to this, he had attended church with his wife for about 15 years without feeling any particular spiritual calling. “I used to think, ‘I’m not a Christian, but I’ll support her.’ But once I woke up, it just felt so different. I was like, ‘I have to do this,’” he explained.

He expressed gratitude towards those who supported him during this challenging time. “So many people donated money, food, and came by to keep me company. I’m really thankful for all of it,” he said.

In May, Askren ended up in the hospital, and by June, he was placed on a ventilator. He was placed on the donor list for lung transplants on June 24th. The surgery was successful, and he has been sharing updates on his recovery through social media. Recently, he shared that he managed to take a few laps around the hospital floor, saying, “I’m making good progress. I hope you’re all doing well in your lives too.”

At 40 years old, Askren was a prominent figure in wrestling, having been an NCAA champion and representing Team USA in the 2008 Olympics. He transitioned to MMA in 2010 and later fought in the UFC. One of his notable moments was a boxing match against Jake Paul in 2021, where he was knocked out in the first round.