Jul 6, 2019; Las Vegas, NV, USA; Ben Askren (blue gloves) is assessed by medical personnel after being knocked out with a knee by Jorge Masvidal (not pictured) at T-Mobile Arena. Jorge Masvidal set a new record for the fastest knockout in UFC history with five seconds. Mandatory Credit: Stephen R. Sylvanie-USA TODAY Sports

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“I Died Four Times” – Ben Askren Reveals Shares Emotional Update After Double Lung Transplant

Ben Askren provides first update after double lung transplant; reveals he died several times during his time in the hospital!

Ben Askren was never the flashiest fighter in MMA. The former UFC welterweight didn’t have knockout power or highlight reel submissions. Instead, he relied on his wrestling background and cardio to grind out wins. His fighting style might have been boring to some fans, but it worked for years. Askren dominated as champion in both Bellator and ONE FC before making his way to the UFC in 2019. He was known for his trash talk and his ability to get under opponents’ skin just as much as his grappling skills.

But nothing could have prepared the 40 year old for the fight of his life that happened outside the octagon. What started as a routine health issue in late May quickly turned into a nightmare scenario that left his family wondering if he would survive. Askren went from being a healthy former athlete to fighting for his life in a Wisconsin hospital. The man who once seemed indestructible inside the cage found himself completely helpless, relying on machines to keep him alive while doctors worked around the clock to save him. He recently underwent a double lung transplant that may have saved his life.

Ben Askren Shares Health Update

Askren recently shared an emotional update from his hospital bed that left fans stunned. Speaking directly to his followers on social media, he revealed the terrifying details of his medical ordeal. The former UFC fighter had to learn about his own near death experience by reading his wife Amy’s journal entries. He has zero memory of the period from May 28 to July 2, describing it as completely blank.

“What’s up guys, have not given you an update in a while, figured you deserved one. I actually read through my wife’s journal because I don’t remember anything from May 28 to July 2. No recollection, no idea what happened. We’ll kind of go through it all. I just read through my wife’s journal and it was like a movie. I only died four times, where the ticker stopped for about 20 seconds.”

🥺❤️ Ben Askren speaks out for the first time.

He saw all of the support 🎥 @Benaskren pic.twitter.com/gwv1Z2WPf1
— Home of Fight (@Home_of_Fight) July 9, 2025

The medical emergency began with severe pneumonia that quickly spiraled out of control. Doctors placed Askren on a ventilator and ECMO machine, which essentially took over the work of his lungs and heart. When his body couldn’t handle coming off sedation, doctors made the difficult decision to put him on the transplant list. Finding a donor match is never guaranteed, but fortunately, a suitable donor was found. The double lung transplant surgery was successful, giving Askren a second chance at life. We hope that Askren keeps getting better and his family find the strength to cruise through these hard times.

(Image Credit: Stephen R. Sylvanie – Imagn Images)

Ben Askren

Zaid Quraishi

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I am a dedicated MMA and Boxing content writer at The Playoffs. I was instantly hooked on MMA after watching the fight between Lyoto Machida vs. Gegard Mousasi back in 2014, and since then, i have been an avid writer with a deep love for the sport and its techniques, providing readers with a thorough understanding of the sport. My favorite aspect of working at The Playoffs is the creative freedom it provides. The diverse range of topics, from listicles and SEO to news articles, keeps me engaged and motivates me to continuously improve my skills! I aim to capture the excitement of the combat sports world in my writing, acting as the middleman between fighters and their die-hard fans. It is kind of like a referee, but with words!