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Former UFC fighter Ben Askren announced that he was released from a hospital on Tuesday after a fight with severe pneumonia that led to a double lung transplant.
The 40-year-old Askren published a video update from his vehicle that his wife Amy drove after he was released from the hospital.
On “Day 59”, Askren explained how he lost 50 pounds while he was hospitalized. Even worse, he described getting close to dying.
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UFC fighter Ben Askren Waits at the beginning of an intermediate weight mixed martial arts match between David Branch and Jared Cannonis at UFC 230, in New York, November 3, 2018. (AP Photo/Julio Cortez, File)
“I’m off with my beautiful wife. Supporting. Man, it was a long journey and it’s not over because I still can’t really walk,” said Asken in the video. “I [have to] Keep doing myself to do it among many other things. I assume I can make light on it because it was me and I don’t really remember it. But Amy, how close was I to die? “
After a break, Askren’s wife replied, “Too close. A few times.”
“Ah, man,” Asken continued. “I don’t remember 35 days on this journey, but I think surgery was 24-25 days ago. It was hard, it was hard. And I already said this in one of my videos, but the support in guys gave me, whether it was sending a goofundm, whether it was to help my children and wife get through that-I had friends from all the way I am not in this situation again for a real, really long.
Ex-UFC star Ben Askren says he ‘only died 4 times’ when he fought
“So thank you, guys, again. All the positive support. All comments online. Everything. It means so much. Love you.”
In an earlier video, Askren said it was “like a movie” that he did not remember anything from May 28 to July 2.
I only died four times when the ticker stopped for about 20 seconds, ”he said.
Ben Askren stands in his corner before a welterweight match against Demian Maia from Brazil during UFC Fight Night at Singapore Indoor Stadium 26 October 2019 in Singapore. (Jeff Bottari/Zuffa LLC via Getty Images)
“But I got the double lung transplant. I came out to the other side of it. Getting a lot of strength. Learning to use everything again. I was on the scale yesterday, 147 pounds. I haven’t been 147 pounds since 15 years old. … so it was a fight. I don’t remember most of it.”
Amy Askren said in early July that her husband received a donor to the double lung transplant and asked for prayers.
Askren recently signed with Real American Freestyle, Hulk Hogan Venture in the hope of popularizing professional freestyle wrestling.
The 40-year-old was a NCAA champion in the 170 pound division in 2006 and 2007 and competed for Team USA in the 2008 Olympics. He won gold medals at the Pan American Championships in 2005 and the World Cup in 2009.
Ben Askren will attend a news conference for Triller Fight Club’s initial boxing event in 2021 on the Venetian Las Vegas March 26, 2021 in Las Vegas. (Ethan Miller/Getty Images)
Asken fully transitioned to MMA matches when he debuted in Bellator in 2010. He competed in a championship before moving to UFC.
Askren fought for Robbie Lawler and won upon submission on UFC 235 before falling to Jorge Masvidal. Then, in 2021, Askren fought Jake Paul in a boxing match, and he was knocked out in the first round.
