Ben Askren’s life has been a fight. From wrestling mats to MMA cages, he’s battled the best with a smile. But nothing prepared him for the fight of his life. In June 2025, a staph infection turned into severe pneumonia, landing the 40-year-old in a Wisconsin hospital. His heart stopped four times. He lost 50 pounds. He needed a double lung transplant to survive. On July 9, 2025, Askren spoke for the first time since the ordeal, sharing a story of survival that’s as raw as it gets.
A Champion’s Journey to the Hospital
Ben Askren, known as “Funky,” made his mark in wrestling and MMA. A two-time NCAA Division I champion at Missouri, he competed at the 2008 Olympics. In MMA, he went 19-2, winning welterweight titles in Bellator and ONE Championship. In 2019, he joined the UFC in a rare trade with Demetrious Johnson, beating Robbie Lawler but losing to Jorge Masvidal and Demian Maia before retiring. In 2021, he boxed Jake Paul, losing by first-round TKO. After that, he focused on coaching at his Askren Wrestling Academy in Wisconsin.
In late May 2025, Askren’s world changed. A staph infection led to pneumonia, and by June 7, he was on a ventilator in critical condition. His wife, Amy, shared updates as he fought for his life.
On June 24, he was added to the lung transplant list. A week later, he received a double lung transplant, a gift from a donor and their family. Amy called each new day “a gift,” and Ben’s first words since the surgery show a man grateful to be alive.
A Fight He Can’t Remember
Askren’s recovery is nothing short of a miracle. In an Instagram video on July 9, he spoke from his hospital bed, still weak but full of heart.
“I just read through my wife’s journal because I don’t remember anything from May 28 to July 2,” he said. “No recollection. No idea. No idea what happened. I just read through my wife’s journals and it’s like a movie. It’s ridiculous.” He was out for over a month, unaware of how close he came to death.
He got real about the toll.
“I only died four times where the ticker stopped for about 20 seconds,” he said. “That’s not ideal. But I got the double lung transplant. I made it out the other side of it. Gaining quite a bit of strength, learning to use everything again.” Askren dropped to 147 pounds, a weight he hadn’t seen since he was 15, losing 50 pounds in 45 days. “That was a battle,” he said. “I don’t remember most of it.”
Askren’s fight wasn’t just physical. The love from his community kept him going.
“The thing that was most impactful to me was all the love I felt from everybody,” he said. “It was almost like I got to have my own funeral. I still remember 30 years ago, Dave Schultz died, you would listen to all these older people recollect, and how much they enjoyed him, how much they loved him, and obviously he never got to hear that. The outpouring of love from the wrestling community is just amazing. It felt so good.”
He ended with gratitude.
“I love you guys. I appreciate you guys. It’s been tough, not only on me but my whole family and my close community. I appreciate everything.”
Friends like Corey Anderson, who credits Askren for his career and marriage, have been praying for him. Even Jake Paul, his former boxing rival, stepped up with financial support when insurance denied the transplant, which can cost up to $2 million.
Askren’s still in the hospital, learning to use his new lungs. Recovery could take months, with risks of infection or rejection in the early days. But he’s gaining strength, and his spirit is unbroken. Amy’s updates show a family grateful for every step forward. On June 24, she shared that Ben mouthed “coffee” while on the ventilator, a small sign of his old self. Now, he’s awake and talking, determined to keep fighting.
Askren’s story is about more than survival. It’s about a man who faced death and came back with gratitude. His wrestling and MMA days showed his toughness, but this battle shows his heart. No timeline exists for his full recovery, but if anyone can push through, it’s Funky Ben.
Askren’s journey isn’t over. At 40, a father of three, he’s got a new life ahead with his new lungs. The transplant marks a fresh start, one he’s tackling with the same grit that made him a champion. His words from the hospital bed aren’t just an update—they’re a promise to keep going. The wrestling and MMA worlds are behind him, cheering for every step.
Will Askren return to coaching with the same fire? Can he rebuild his strength and live fully again? Only time will tell. For now, he’s alive, he’s fighting, and he’s thankful. That’s the Ben Askren way.
