Former UFC fighter Ben Askren is battling severe pneumonia, but his wife Amy provided an encouraging update on Facebook earlier today, June 24, 2025. Hospitalized since June 7, 2025, in a Wisconsin hospital, Askren is now on a lung transplant list. Amy’s post highlights small but significant signs of progress in his recovery, offering hope to his family and supporters.
Amy wrote, “As of late last night, Ben is officially on the transplant list. Please pray he can get stronger and stay stable without complications while he waits, and that they find an amazing match for him and he accepts it smoothly. Also please pray for whoever that donor may be, and his family. It’s going to be a huge adjustment for Ben, but our family is so thankful that his other organs are ok and that there is a path forward. While he is having more periods of awareness, he’s not able to look at his phone yet and respond to messages. I am hoping he can get there in the next week or two! Also hoping we will get to a place soon where he can talk while on a trach.”
Signs of Progress in Recovery
Askren has been on a ventilator since early June due to his critical condition. Initially unresponsive, he is now showing improvement, which has lifted his family’s spirits. Amy shared a light moment, saying:
“Yesterday he kept mouthing something for a while and we finally figured out he was saying coffee! (He cant have it yet lol) What a huge relief to see him asking for something so normal. I’m so thankful his mind is healthy, and I can’t wait to have him back. We are also so thankful for the amazing community we have from close friends, friends we haven’t talked to in 20+ years, to strangers who have reached out to share their similar stories or pray. Thank you.”
Amy noted he is having more moments of awareness, a key step forward. She hopes he will soon be able to use his phone and eventually speak through a tracheostomy tube, which helps him breathe. The family is thankful that Askren’s other organs are functioning well, providing a path forward for the transplant. Amy asked for continued support for his stability and for a suitable donor, acknowledging the emotional weight of the process.
Ben Askren, a two-time NCAA wrestling champion and 2008 Olympian, built a strong MMA career, going undefeated in Bellator and ONE Championship, where he held welterweight titles. He joined the UFC in 2019 and retired in November 2019 after a 19-2 record, following a submission loss to Demian Maia. His UFC run included a notable five-second knockout loss to Jorge Masvidal, one of the fastest in UFC history.
Askren faced health challenges before this crisis. In 2017, he underwent hip surgery to repair a labral tear, which he said improved his quality of life. His current battle with pneumonia began after a trip to Las Vegas, leading to his hospitalization. Doctors considered a lung transplant as early as June 17, 2025, when his condition worsened, but recent updates confirm his infections are now under control, allowing him to be listed for a transplant.
