Former UFC fighter Ben Askren hospitalized with severe pneumonia at 40, wife says he’s “unable to respond”

Former MMA fighter and Olympic Wrestler Ben Askren has been hospitalized with a serious illness. His wife, Amy Askren, shared the news in a Facebook post on Saturday, June 7, saying he has “severe pneumonia,” and that he is “unable to respond”. She asked for prayers and peace for her family during this difficult time, while also requesting privacy, especially for the children. Amy shared that the illness took over him very fast. She revealed,

"He developed severe pneumonia, which came on very suddenly. He’s currently in the hospital and unable to respond to anything at this time.”

She added,

"We welcome all prayers for healing and for peace. We are trying to keep life as normal as possible for our children currently and doing our best to support them thoughtfully so please refrain from discussing it with them for now."

Before Amy’s post, wrestling reporter Pat Mineo wrote on X that Ben was in critical condition. He added that Ben Askren also had a staph infection and needed prayers. The news quickly spread in the wrestling and MMA world, with many fans and fellow fighters showing support to him and his family

Ben Askren won NCAA titles in 2006 and 2007. That helped him earn a spot on Team USA for the 2008 Beijing Olympics, where he competed as a wrestler. He then transitioned to Mixed Martial Arts (MMA) in 2009 and became a welterweight champion in Bellator MMA and ONE Championship. Later, he joined the UFC and won his debut fight against Robbie Lawler. His overall MMA record is 19 wins and 2 losses. He also competed in a boxing match in 2021, losing to Jake Paul in the first round.

Ben Askren's current illness and the fight ahead

Ben Askren's sudden health crisis has shocked many. Amy’s Facebook post made it clear that he cannot speak or respond at this time. This severe pneumonia came suddenly, on top of a staph infection that reporters like Mineo mentioned. However, Amy has not shared many details regarding where Ben is being treated or how long he will stay in the hospital. His team has not released any official statement yet.

Just a month ago, Ben Askren was hopeful about the future. He signed a deal with Real American Freestyle, a freestyle wrestling group started by Hulk Hogan. In a video on Instagram, he said he missed the wrestling competition. He said:

“I just finished signing my Real American Freestyle contract. I’ve been waiting to wrestle. I kind of miss competition. I love fighting but I don't have time for that anymore … I'm going to whip some of these young whippersnappers, show them what the f--- it's all about.”

This health battle now is even tougher than a wrestling match. But the support is strong. Family, friends, fans, and former opponents all stand by Ben Askren.

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