Beloved MMA champion Ben Askren receives double lung transplant weeks after falling ill

7NEWS

01-07-2025

Beloved MMA veteran Ben Askren has received a successful double lung transplant in his fight for life against severe pneumonia, his wife Amy has announced.
The 40-year-old American was hospitalised in early June.
His illness reportedly stemmed from a staph infection, with the one-time Olympian living off a ventilator for the past two weeks before going on the transplant waiting list.
Amy shared an update on Monday local time (Tuesday AEST) to report he is now on the road to recovery after surgery.
'We are so thankful to share that Ben has received a double lung transplant,' she wrote.
'We are forever thankful to the donor and his family.
'This is the beginning of a new lifestyle for Ben, but every new day he has is a gift.
'It still doesn't feel real that he was walking around completely normal just five weeks ago.
'Please keep Ben in your prayers that his body welcomes the new lungs as if they were his own.'
Askren and his wife share three children.
'Happy Father's Day to the best dad we could ask for. We love you so much,' Amy wrote in June when Askren was first unwell.
'You've given us the best life and now we are acutely aware of just how good we have it.
'We are praying for you non-stop and can't wait to have you back home with us.'
The family received an outpouring of support and donations since it was first reported that he was hospitalised.
His former opponent Jake Paul has led the charge, even putting UFC chief executive Dana White and the American healthcare system on blast following his win over Julia Cesar Chavez Jr over the weekend.
Paul accused White and insurance companies of a lack of support for the retired Askren.
'Insurance is a f****** scam, and it's so sad,' Paul said in his post-fight press conference.
'Right when you need these companies, they're not there.
'His insurance denied him to get the double lung transplant, which is also one of the most expensive surgeries, which is why they denied it.'
'I was obviously super busy this week, so we're figuring out the donation now.
'None of these people, like Dana or anyone, are stepping in.
'So, I feel like I have to do something.'
White shared a donation link but is still yet to have disclosed whether he offered support — financial or otherwise — to the Askren family behind closed doors.
Askren was a college wrestling champion and competed in the sport for Team USA at the Beijing 2008 Olympics.
He moved into mixed martial arts and became a Bellator champion before a late-career debut in the UFC.
He retired in 2019 before making his one-off professional boxing debut against Paul in 2021.