Ben Askren shares tearful update as former UFC star is finally released from hospital
Askren, a former Olympic wrestler and MMA champion, retired from combat sports in 2021 at the age of 36. But this spring, at just 40, the American suddenly faced a complicated health issue.
His wife, Amy, revealed that Askren was battling 'severe pneumonia', and a concerning episode eventually led to the ex-fighter having a double lung transplant.
In early July, Askren addressed fans for the first time since his health scare began, appearing emotional in a video that showed how much weight and energy he had lost. ' I only died four times, where the ticker stopped for about 20 seconds,' he said at the time.
Now, Askren has shared another tearful update, yet a more celebratory one. Having finally been released from hospital, Askren said in a social-media video on Tuesday: 'Day 59, I'm out! With my beautiful wife supportive.
'That was a long journey, and it's not over because I still can't really walk. I have to re-teach myself to do that among many other things. I guess I can make light of it because it was me and I don't really remember it. But Amy how close was I to dying?'
Askren turned to his wife, who replied, 'Too close, a few times,' before Askren continued: 'I remember [that] I don't remember 35 days of this journey, but I think surgery was 24, 25 days ago. It was hard. It was hard.'
Becoming tearful, Askren said: 'I've said this already in one of the videos, but the support you guys gave me – whether it was setting up a GoFundMe, whether it was helping my kids and wife get through it, I had friends come from all over the country just to hang out for a couple of days – it meant so much. It was so great to have all the support and all the love.
'Hopefully I'm not in this situation again for a really, really, really long time; I plan on living a while. So, thank you guys again for all of the positive support, all of the comments online, everything. It means so much, love you guys.'
Askren went to the 2008 Olympics as a Team USA wrestler, before beginning an MMA career in which he won the Bellator and ONE welterweight titles and stayed unbeaten until his final two fights.
His last three fights all took place in the UFC in 2019, as he submitted Robbie Lawler before suffering a record-setting five-second knockout by Jorge Masvidal and a submission by Demian Maia.
Askren then boxed once, facing YouTuber Jake Paul in 2021 and falling to a first-round knockout. He has not competed in any combat sport since.
Hashtags
Try Our AI Features
Explore what Daily8 AI can do for you:
Comments
No comments yet...
Related Articles
Reuters
12 minutes ago
- Reuters
Report: Browns QB Kenny Pickett injured during practice
July 27 - Cleveland Browns quarterback Kenny Pickett reportedly went down with a hamstring injury during Saturday's training camp session, casting uncertainty over his early momentum in a crowded quarterback competition. Sources told ESPN that Pickett sustained the injury while rolling to his right and throwing a touchdown during the final red zone drill of the day. The severity of the injury remains unclear and the Browns reportedly expect to re-evaluate him later this week. Pickett had been making a strong case to become the Browns' starter, taking a majority of the first-team reps during the opening week of training camp. Browns quarterbacks coach Bill Musgrave described his performance in the first two practices as "stellar," particularly praising his accuracy. Pickett's early success had seemingly put him ahead in the four-man competition, which includes veteran Joe Flacco and rookies Dillon Gabriel and Shedeur Sanders. The injury now opens the door for the remaining quarterbacks to gain valuable reps. Flacco, entering his 18th NFL season, has rotated with Pickett throughout camp and brings veteran leadership to the position group. Gabriel, a third-round pick out of Oregon, has had limited time with the first team, while Sanders, a fifth-round pick from Colorado, has yet to take any first-team snaps. Pickett, a 2022 first-round pick by the Pittsburgh Steelers, was traded to the Browns in March by the Philadelphia Eagles. Cleveland gave up a fifth-round pick and young quarterback Dorian Thompson-Robinson in the deal. With the Browns declining his fifth-year option, Pickett is set to become a free agent after the 2025 season. --Field Level Media
The Independent
42 minutes ago
- The Independent
Bubba Wallace wins Brickyard 400 to become Indy's first Black winner
Bubba Wallace became the first Black driver to win on Indianapolis Motor Speedway's 2.5-mile oval, surviving a late rain delay, two overtimes, concerns over running out of fuel and a hard-charging Kyle Larson on Sunday in the Brickyard 400. The third NASCAR Cup victory of Wallace's career was also his biggest. It snapped a 100-race winless streak that dated to 2022 at Kansas. He also won at Talladega in 2021. It's his first win at one of NASCAR's four crown jewel races. 'Unbelievable,' Wallace shouted on his radio after crossing the yard of bricks. And while the final gap was 0.222 seconds, he didn't reach victory lane without some consternation. Larson trailed by 5.057 seconds with 14 laps to go but the gap was down to about three seconds with six remaining when the yellow flag came out because of rain. The cars rolled to a stop on pit lane with four to go, giving Wallace about 20 additional minutes to think and rethink his restart strategy. But after beating Larson through the second turn, a crash behind the leaders forced a second overtime, extending the race even more laps as Wallace's team thought he might run out of gas. Wallace risked everything by staying on the track then beat the defending race winner off the restart again to prevent Larson from becoming the fourth back-to-back winner of the Brickyard. It also alleviated the frustration Wallace felt Saturday when he spent most of the qualifying session on the provisional pole only to see Chase Briscoe surpass with one of the last runs in the session. He made sure there was no repeat Sunday, giving an added boost to the 23XI Racing co-owned by basketball Hall of Famer Michael Jordan and last week's race winner, Denny Hamlin, as it continues to battle NASCAR in court over its charter status. ___
Scottish Sun
42 minutes ago
- Scottish Sun
Sprint sensation, 16, beats Usain Bolt's 100m record at same age to qualify for world championships
Click to share on X/Twitter (Opens in new window) Click to share on Facebook (Opens in new window) JAPANESE 16-year-old Sorato Shimizu has set a new world record for the fastest 100m time EVER achieved by an athlete under-18. The sprinting prodigy, who is still a schoolboy, ran 100 metres in just 10.00 seconds during a track meet in Hiroshima. Sign up for Scottish Sun newsletter Sign up 2 Sorato Shimizu celebrates his incredible time Credit: 2 Shimizu shows off his brilliant achievement Shimizu has beaten the previous record jointly held by American Christian Miller, and Thai ace Puripol Boonson, who both ran 100m in 10.06 seconds. And his incredible time smashes Usain Bolt's best time as a 20-year-old. The Jamaican icon, who still holds the overall world 100m record, had achieved a personal best of 10.03 seconds as a 20-year-old. Although at this point in his incredible career, Bolt was focused more on the 200m discipline. READ MORE IN SPORT COMMON KNOWLEDGE Major sporting event facing TV blackout for first time in 70 years Shimuzu's time was achieved at the Inter High School Championships. It places him fifth all-time among Japanese athletes. While he also now holds his country's high school record. The previous record of 10.01 seconds had stood for 12 years, having been set by Yoshihide Kiryu. BEST ONLINE CASINOS - TOP SITES IN THE UK Following his achievement, Shimuzu said: "I was determined to run under 10 seconds heading into the final. "I'm happy to have set a high school record. I'd like to get a taste of it if I can make it." Hurdler suffers very embarrassing wardrobe malfunction as privates are exposed during race The Athletics World Championships are set to be held in Tokyo this September. Shimizu's time has cleared the entry standard for the prestigious event.
