Former MMA star Ben Askren shared a deeply personal update about nearly losing his life after a staph infection developed into pneumonia. The 40-year-old, retired since 2019, surprised fans with a video from his hospital bed explaining his memory loss from late May to early July.
Askren’s infection, caused by bacteria that usually live harmlessly on skin or in the nose, became life-threatening when it spread to his lungs. He was hospitalized in Wisconsin, placed on a ventilator, and put on the waiting list for a double lung transplant.
His wife said he was healthy before the infection. Askren learned from her journal that his heart stopped four times during treatment. “I only died four times,” he said, describing the experience as if he attended his “own funeral.”
Despite losing 50 pounds in just over a month, Askren is now recovering and more determined than ever to regain his health. He thanked fans and the wrestling community for their overwhelming support.
Jake Paul, a fellow fighter and influencer, called on people to pray for Askren and donate to help him during his recovery.
