The former UFC star and Olympic wrestler is still on a ventilator and an ECMO machine, with doctors now starting the evaluation process for a lung transplant. Askren, who was diagnosed with severe pneumonia, has remained under sedation for most of his hospital stay. His condition remains touch and go.
Askren’s wife, Amy, gave a deeply personal update on Facebook, sharing the current state of his health and why she delayed speaking out publicly.
“I haven’t shared an update because Ben has been in limbo for a while and I was hoping to have him wake up and be the one to decide what to share,” she wrote. “I’ve had some media people contact me that they are going to share an update and I would rather it come from me.”
“Ben is still on a ventilator and ECMO to support him while he heals. There are good days and bad. But on the good, they have been able to wean his sedation enough for him to open his eyes and squeeze hands. His body can’t handle coming off sedation too much yet. I’m still praying for a miracle with his current lungs, but they are currently starting the evaluation process for lung transplant.”
The ventilator and ECMO—extracorporeal membrane oxygenation—are keeping Ben Askren alive, doing the work his lungs currently can’t. He remains sedated most of the time, but on better days, there are small signs of responsiveness.
While his wife holds out hope for a recovery without surgery, the transplant process is already underway.
The MMA community has rallied around ‘Funky’, sending messages of support and prayers from all corners of the sport. Amy has felt that support deeply.
“Please pray for his continued healing. And if transplant is the solution, that he can get on the list quickly and easily,” she continued. “I know transplants are such a blessing and I’m overwhelmed at the thought of him receiving a gift like that. No one would take better care of that gift than Ben.”
“Thank you for every message and all of the support. Despite this awful situation, I’m feeling so blessed by the community we’re surrounded by. Give your loved ones a hug today and make sure you’re prepared for situations like this. Ben is the healthiest guy I know and I never could have expected this.”
Ben Askren built a legendary career in MMA before hanging up the gloves. He went 19-2 with one no contest, claimed championships in both Bellator and ONE Championship, and later joined the UFC where he submitted Robbie Lawler in his debut. He suffered back-to-back losses to Jorge Masvidal and Demian Maia before retiring from MMA in 2019. In 2021, Askren returned briefly for a boxing match against Jake Paul, but since then, he’s remained active as a coach and analyst while running his wrestling academy in Wisconsin.
