Jorge Masvidal may have delivered the fastest knockout in UFC history against Ben Askren, but outside the cage, he showed the kind of respect that transcends rivalries. After Askren’s recent life-threatening health scare, Masvidal stepped up with words that carried more weight than any punch or knee ever could.
Ben Askren recently underwent a double lung transplant after a severe staph infection spiraled into pneumonia and critical respiratory failure. The MMA community rallied around him from the start, offering prayers, support, and donations. Jake Paul, who boxed Askren in 2021, vowed to help fund the transplant. Askren’s wife, Amy, later confirmed the surgery had been a success. Not long after, Askren himself posted an emotional update from his hospital bed, half-joking that he had “only died four times.”
The outpouring of support hasn’t slowed. UFC president Dana White called Askren an “unbelievable warrior,” and now Jorge Masvidal has added his voice to the growing list of fighters showing love.
“This goes out to the one and only, Ben Askren,” Masvidal said in a video posted to social media. “What’s up, my brother. I know we were rivals in the ring. I just want to say God bless you. When I get back to America, if I could come and shake your hand, brother, and just share a prayer with you, it’d be amazing.”
Masvidal and Askren will forever be linked through that unforgettable five-second finish at UFC 239. But Masvidal made it clear there’s more to their relationship than what fans saw on fight night.
“I know you’re gonna pull through this because you’re a f***ing warrior, brother. God bless. Your story is crazy inspirational. What you’re going through,God bless you, man. I’m hoping to get back and just be able to shake your hand, bro. I hope all is well, brother.”
For someone who built his name on violence and grit, Jorge Masvidal’s message showed a softer, more grounded side. It was a reminder that fighters are still human beings, bonded by the shared sacrifice of this brutal sport. And for Ben Askren, now facing a recovery far tougher than any bout, support like this may be just as powerful as any medical miracle.
Jorge Masvidal may have made history with a flying knee, but in this moment, it’s his words that landed with impact.
