
MMA legend Ben Askren hospitalized in Critical condition with severe Pneumonia, family asks for prayers
Former
UFC
, Bellator, and ONE Championship welterweight champion
Ben
'Funky'
Askren
has been hospitalized in critical condition after developing a severe case of
pneumonia
. The illness struck suddenly, and Askren is currently unresponsive and receiving treatment in an intensive care unit.
His wife, Amy Askren, confirmed the news on social media, urging privacy and prayers. 'He developed severe pneumonia which came on very suddenly,' she wrote.
Also Read:
UFC 316 recap: Kevin Holland outclasses Vicente Luque, scores clean D'Arce submission victory
Play Video
Pause
Skip Backward
Skip Forward
Unmute
Current Time
0:00
/
Duration
0:00
Loaded
:
0%
0:00
Stream Type
LIVE
Seek to live, currently behind live
LIVE
Remaining Time
-
0:00
1x
Playback Rate
Chapters
Chapters
Descriptions
descriptions off
, selected
Captions
captions settings
, opens captions settings dialog
captions off
, selected
Audio Track
default
, selected
Picture-in-Picture
Fullscreen
This is a modal window.
Beginning of dialog window. Escape will cancel and close the window.
Text
Color
White
Black
Red
Green
Blue
Yellow
Magenta
Cyan
Opacity
Opaque
Semi-Transparent
Text Background
Color
Black
White
Red
Green
Blue
Yellow
Magenta
Cyan
Opacity
Opaque
Semi-Transparent
Transparent
Caption Area Background
Color
Black
White
Red
Green
Blue
Yellow
Magenta
Cyan
Opacity
Transparent
Semi-Transparent
Opaque
Font Size
50%
75%
100%
125%
150%
175%
200%
300%
400%
Text Edge Style
None
Raised
Depressed
Uniform
Drop shadow
Font Family
Proportional Sans-Serif
Monospace Sans-Serif
Proportional Serif
Monospace Serif
Casual
Script
Small Caps
Reset
restore all settings to the default values
Done
Close Modal Dialog
End of dialog window.
Sponsored Links
Sponsored Links
Promoted Links
Promoted Links
You May Like
Semua yang Perlu Anda Ketahui Tentang Limfoma
Limfoma
Pelajari
Undo
'He's currently in the hospital and unable to respond to anything at this time. We welcome all prayers for healing and peace.' She also asked supporters to spare any discussions of the situation around their children.
Live Events
Close friend and MMA stalwart
Chael Sonnen
reassured fans that Askren is alive and appreciative of the support, though family privacy remains a priority. The wrestling and MMA community has rallied, sending heartfelt messages and prayer requests.
Who is Ben Askren?
Ben Askren, 40, is a decorated wrestling and MMA athlete. He was a two-time NCAA Division I champion and a three-time Big 12 champion at the University of Missouri. He also won the prestigious Dan Hodge Trophy twice and represented the U.S. at the 2008 Olympics.
In MMA, Askren debuted professionally in 2009, eventually securing welterweight titles in Bellator and ONE Championship. He transitioned to the UFC in a historic exchange deal, traded for flyweight champ Demetrious Johnson, with a 20-fight unbeaten record.
His UFC run included a controversial submission win over Robbie Lawler and knockout defeats to Jorge Masvidal and Demian Maia, after which he retired in 2019 due to hip issues.
After MMA, Askren ventured into boxing, facing YouTube star Jake Paul in April 2021 and suffering a first-round knockout loss.
As he battles Pneoumenia, Askren's wife and family have requested continued respect for their privacy during this difficult time.
Hashtags

Try Our AI Features
Explore what Daily8 AI can do for you:
Comments
No comments yet...
Related Articles

The Hindu
4 hours ago
- The Hindu
Borussia Dortmund signs Jobe Bellingham, Real Madrid star Jude's younger brother
The Bellingham name is back at Borussia Dortmund. Jobe Bellingham signed a five-year-deal on Tuesday with the German club where his older brother developed into one of the world's best midfielders before joining Real Madrid in 2023. The younger Bellingham, 19, then took part in his first training session with his new teammates. He left Sunderland just over two weeks after helping it win promotion back to the Premier League. He reportedly turned down an offer from Eintracht Frankfurt. 'Jobe is an extremely talented footballer with an impressive level of maturity and intelligence on the pitch for someone so young,' Dortmund managing director for sport Lars Ricken said. 'We have no doubt that he's the perfect fit for our philosophy of developing talented youngsters and giving them the opportunity to improve and establish themselves at the highest level.' Dortmund is evidently hoping Bellingham can have the same impact at the club as his brother, who almost led the club to a Bundesliga title in 2023. Dortmund failed in the final game with Jude Bellingham watching from the sideline as he couldn't play. 'We've known Jobe for several years, and of course we have followed his progress very closely,' Dortmund sporting director Sebastian Kehl said. 'He has taken another huge step forward in his development over the last year, and even at the age of 19 he has become a real leader.' Just like Jude, Jobe Bellingham is a central midfielder who likes to get forward and support attacks. Jobe has followed in his brother's footsteps by coming through the Birmingham City academy and making his senior debut at the age of 16 in 2022. He's also played for England Under-21s. There are a couple of differences between the Bellinghams, too. Jobe is two years older than Jude was when he signed for Dortmund in 2020, and he also has experience of playing a center-forward role in a handful of games for Sunderland. His performances for Sunderland in the second-division Championship this season saw Bellingham named the league's young player of the year in April and named in its team of the season. Bellingham joins a Dortmund team which narrowly secured Champions League qualification for next season by rising to fourth place on the final day of the Bundesliga. Bellingham is eligible for Dortmund's opening group-stage games this month at the Club World Cup in the United States. He will wear No. 77 at the tournament, Dortmund said. Dortmund starts against Brazil's Fluminense on June 17 followed by Mamelodi Sundowns of South Africa on June 21 and South Korea's Ulsan HD four days after that. 'We're delighted that we were able to complete this deal before the FIFA Club World Cup so that we can see Jobe in our colors for the first time in the United States,' Kehl said.


Hindustan Times
6 hours ago
- Hindustan Times
Donald Trump wearing a Foley catheter? POTUS' latest appearance sparks health concerns
President Donald Trump's recent White House appearance and at a UFC event in New Jersey sparked health concerns. Several social media users noted that they could see a bulge in his trouser leg, further fueling theories about the 78-year-old wearing a Foley catheter due to urinary incontinence or neurological issues. The Trump administration is yet to address these theories. Images of Trump at the Rose Garden, where Trump inspected a construction project, and the UFC event, where he posed with champion Kayla Harrison, show a tube-like outline down his left pant leg. Read More: Trump says he would 'certainly invoke' Insurrection Act if needed amid Los Angeles protests 'Trump is absolutely wearing a Foley catheter… It's a tube inserted into the bladder to drain urine into a bag strapped to the leg,' one person said on X, platform formerly known as Twitter. They further attached a photo of the president. Another user, @Suzierizzo1, added, 'It definitely looks like Trump is wearing a Catheter most likely a Foley!' Some X users dismissed the claims, attributing the bulge to wrinkled pants. X users commented, 'Wrinkles in his pants? Drrrr,' and 'Wrinkles in the suite? Who tf cares?' No medical evidence or official statement supports the catheter theory. Read More: Trump stumbles on Air Force One steps, internet says 'Joe Biden vibes' | Video In April, White House physician Captain Sean Barbabella declared Trump, 78, in 'excellent health' after a five-hour physical at Walter Reed, citing 'robust cardiac, pulmonary, neurological, and general physical function.' The report noted a 20-pound weight loss, diverticulosis, a benign polyp, and a scar from a July 2024 assassination attempt, but no mention of catheters or incontinence. Health concerns have dogged Trump, with 2022 photos suggesting a catheter bag and 2024 claims of incontinence. His physician's 2025 report omitted such issues, and Trump's active lifestyle, including golf, was cited as evidence of fitness. Meanwhile, on Tuesday, Trump visited Fort Bragg, home to some 50,000 active-duty soldiers, for long-scheduled commemorations of the US Army's 250th anniversary following his move to deploy 700 Marines and 4,000 National Guard troops to Los Angeles.


Hindustan Times
7 hours ago
- Hindustan Times
Simone Biles issues apology to Riley Gaines after explosive feud: 'It didn't help'
Simone Biles has issued an apology after exchanging barbs with former swimmer Riley Gaines. The duo erupted in an explosive feud over the participation of transgender athletes in women's sports. However, on Tuesday, Biles apologized for her remarks against Gaines and emphasized the responsibility of sports organizations to balance inclusivity with fair competition. The American gymnast said that 'competitive equity & inclusivity' were an essential part of sports. 'The current system doesn't adequately balance these important principles, which often leads to frustration and heated exchanges, and it didn't help for me to get personal with Riley, which I apologize for,' she added. Simone Biles continued, 'My objection is to be singling out children for public scrutiny in ways that feel personal and harmful. Individual athletes—especially kids—should never be the focus of criticism of a flawed system they have no control over.' She ended her post by saying, 'We all want a future for sport that is fair, inclusive, and respectful.' The former swimmer said that she accepted the apology. Calling Simone Biles the 'greatest female gymnast of all time', Riley Gaines invited her 'to support fair sports and a future for female athletes. Little girls deserve the same shot to achieve that you had.' A war of words erupted between the two athletes last week after Gaines criticized Minnesota's Champlin Park softball team for reportedly including a 17-year-old trans player in their squad. This caught the attention of Biles, who called Gaines 'sick' and a 'sore loser.' The feud escalated, with the 11-time Olympic medalist calling on Gaines to 'bully someone your own size, which would ironically be a male.' There has been a long-running debate over the inclusion of transgender athletes in sports. US President Donald Trump has taken a hard stance on the matter, passing an executive order in February to remove transgender athletes from sports that didn't match their biological sex. She is an American gymnast who has won 11 medals at the Olympics. The gymnast has seven Olympic gold medals to her name. She became the first female American gymnast to win four gold medals at the 2016 Rio Olympics.