Ben Askren, a former UFC welterweight and wrestling star, choked back tears as he credited his wife Amy for saving his life during a near-fatal battle with necrotizing pneumonia. In a YouTube interview with Real American Freestyle Wrestling, Askren shared how Amy’s persistence got him to the hospital, leading to a 45-day coma and a double lung transplant.
Askren’s condition was severe, with his heart stopping four times briefly during the coma. He lost over 50 pounds, dropping to 147 pounds, a weight unseen since age 15. A double lung transplant in late June saved him, but he faced setbacks, including a hospital readmission for an infection. He struggled to walk, using a walker and lifting only a 5-pound weight. Amy’s Facebook updates noted the transplant’s success, marking a new chapter.
Askren’s Gratitude
Askren praised Amy’s role.
“I don’t wanna get emotional, but if it wasn’t for my wife, I probably would’ve died,” he said. “She videotapes me sleeping. I look like s—, I’m breathing super-hard and fast.” He added, “My wife was amazing. You know, she visited almost every day for 70 days. It’s like, she’s gotta take care of our kids too. I get emotional still. There’s a decent chance I could’ve died.”
Amy’s insistence saved him from a life-threatening condition.
The Health Scare
After wrestling sessions, Askren felt off.
“In May, I had wrestled on Thursday, Friday, Saturday,” he said. “I came home. I felt totally fine. Then a couple of hours later, my back started hurting really bad. And I’m like, ‘Damn!’ That night, I was awake like every 45 minutes.”
Amy noticed his rapid breathing and recorded it, urging him to seek help. He resisted but gave in.
“So, she wakes me up, she’s like, ‘You’ve gotta go to the hospital’. I’m like, ‘I’m not f—ing going to the hospital’. We argue for 30 minutes. My wife convinces me to go to the hospital,” he recalled. “I remember getting in the Uber from the building, and that’s it. I remember nothing.”
Askren dominated wrestling, winning two NCAA Division I titles at the University of Missouri and competing in the 2008 Olympics. He started MMA in 2009, going 9-0 in Bellator, winning the welterweight title in 2010, and defending it four times. In ONE Championship, he went 6-0, claiming the welterweight belt in 2014 and defending it three times.Traded to the UFC in 2018 for Demetrious Johnson, Askren debuted in 2019, submitting Robbie Lawler at UFC 235, though the stoppage stirred debate. Losses to Jorge Masvidal via a five-second knockout and Demian Maia led to his MMA retirement in 2019 due to hip issues. In 2021, he boxed Jake Paul, losing by first-round knockout.
The MMA community showed support. Former rivals Jorge Masvidal and Jake Paul sent messages. “Man, I got only positive messages,” Askren told TMZ Sports. “Like Jorge Masvidal and Jake Paul both messaged me. I was like, ‘Where the hell’s that come from?’” Kamaru Usman, who buried a past rivalry, offered prayers.
Askren’s competitive days are likely done.
“I probably won’t be actively competitive in anything ever again from a physical standpoint,” he said. “But I’ll be able to live a really good life.”
Focused on recovery in Wisconsin with Amy and their three children, he aims to give back, inspired by the support he received.
