Ben Askren Undergoes Double Lung Transplant

Ben Askren is currently battling pneumonia. On Wednesday, the former Olympic wrestler and MMA fighter shared that he had a double lung transplant.

His wife, Amy, shared on social media that Askren was placed on a ventilator in June and, as of June 24, he was on the donor list for lung transplants.

Jake Paul, a YouTube star who transitioned into professional boxing, took a moment to commend his former opponent. Paul characterized Askren as “one of the toughest fighters” in light of his fight with this severe illness.

“I scream at Ben Askren. He proved he was one of the toughest fighters of all time,” Paul noted on Wednesday.

This praise came shortly after Askren stated he “died only four times” prior to his lung transplant.

Askren shared in a video he posted online that he had no clear memories of the past weeks. “Zero’s idea. I don’t know what happened,” he explained, adding, “I just read my wife’s diary. It’s like a movie. It’s ridiculous. I’ve only died four times.”

During this challenging period, Askren also mentioned he lost around 50 pounds over 45 days. “The most impressive thing for me was all the love I felt,” he reflected. “It seemed like I was going to have my own funeral.”

Askren, who previously won consecutive NCAA wrestling titles in Missouri and competed in the 2008 Olympics, transitioned to MMA, fighting in Bellator and then the UFC. He stepped away from MMA after a loss to Demian Maia in 2019, leaving with a 19-2 record.

He and Jake Paul have a history, having faced each other in April 2021, where Paul won by technical knockout in the first round.