Home / Health / Ben Askren's Nightmare Year: Double Lung Transplant Survivor
Ben Askren's Nightmare Year: Double Lung Transplant Survivor
1 Jan
Summary
- Former MMA fighter Ben Askren battled severe pneumonia in 2025.
- He spent 59 days hospitalized, undergoing a double lung transplant.
- Askren enters 2026 with gratitude, focusing on recovery and purpose.
Former MMA fighter Ben Askren has detailed the most challenging year of his life following a severe health crisis in 2025. He faced a critical battle with pneumonia, which necessitated a 59-day hospitalization and ultimately required a double lung transplant to survive.
Askren described his illness as a blur, with weeks of unconsciousness leaving him feeling as though he had briefly departed and returned to the world. This profound experience prompted deep reflection on his life and led him to feel pride in his past while recognizing the need for future changes and a more purposeful existence.
As he enters 2026, Askren is prioritizing his ongoing health recovery, feeling strong enough to consider future plans. While adapting to new limitations, such as attending his children's wrestling events, he finds immense relief in everyday comfort and breathing easily. He also remains involved with the wrestling organization Real American Freestyle.
