Ben Askren Went From a Sudden Case of Pneumonia to a Double Lung Transplant

For fans of mixed martial arts, the name Ben Askren still carries weight. Known for his unorthodox wrestling style, undefeated run in Bellator and ONE Championship, and his memorable stint in the UFC, Ben has long been a figure of intrigue in and out of the octagon, per Wikipedia. When word spread in June 2025 that he’d been hospitalized, many were left wondering: What happened to Ben Askren? Furthermore, was it related to his career in professional boxing?

As details began to emerge, questions quickly turned to concern. The news was alarming — it was about something serious enough to put the 40-year-old father of three in a hospital bed and leave him unresponsive. Keep reading as we take a closer look at what is going on with Ben.

Following rumors and whispers that something was wrong, Ben’s wife Amy took to Facebook on June 7, 2025, to clear the air on what was going on. Amy shared that her husband had suddenly developed severe pneumonia. She clarified that it happened without warning. It left him unresponsive and hospitalized. Amy encouraged friends, fans, and loved ones to shower her family with prayers during this difficult time.

Unsurprisingly, the Facebook message struck a chord with fans of Ben and his family. This wasn’t just an update on their family. It was a plea for prayer and compassion.

ESPN corroborated the story, reporting that the former fighter had been hospitalized due to “a serious respiratory condition” that left him temporarily unresponsive. The tone of Amy’s message indicated the severity of the situation, which unfortunately took a turn for the worse.

Three weeks after Amy shared that Ben was in the hospital for pneumonia, she returned to Facebook with a shocking update. "We are so thankful to share that Ben has received a double lung transplant," she wrote. "We are forever thankful to the donor and his family." She went on to say that this was a new beginning for Ben and their family. It was hard to imagine that just five weeks prior, he was perfectly healthy. "So much can change so quickly," she said.

After once again asking people to keep Ben in her prayers, Amy expressed awe and gratitude for the medical team that made this possible. "I can’t wait to tell Ben all about it," she said. "I’m hopeful that in coming weeks Ben will be able to give the next update, but hopefully he will wait until the drugs wear off," joked Amy.

The responses to this news were joyful and supportive. "Great news! Praying his body receives it well," commented one person. Another chimed in and reminded folks that this is a good time to make sure they are are organ donors. Ben was extremely lucky to receive a transplant so quickly as he was on the list for less than a week. A Reddit thread about lung transplants revealed that one person waited six weeks while another was on the list for five years.