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Previous UFC Fighter Ben Askren says he turned to faith after waking up from a medically induced coma and undergoing a double pulmonary transplant after a severe case of pneumonia.
During an interview with Flowrestling, published last week, the former Olympic wrestler Talked about his journey and the moment he woke up from a coma and decided to become a Christian.
UFC fighter Ben Askren Waits at the start of an intermediate weight mixed martial arts match between David Branch and Jared Cannonis at UFC 230 in New York on November 3, 2018. (AP Photo/Julio Cortez, File)
“There were several times when they thought I was dead. As if I were dead, it’s the other side,” said Asken in the video. “I woke up and I just decided I was a Christian. So it’s crazy.”
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Askren continued to explain that while he attended church with his wife, he never felt the call for faith.
“I went with my wife to church for 15 years because it was part of the deal. I said, ‘Well, I’m not a Christian, but I will support you.’ And it was really weird when I woke up I’m like ‘I have to do it.’ Do you know? he continued.
“[I have] So much gratitude to anyone who has helped. So many people have donated money, seen our kids, donated food, a lot of friends come and hangout with me – just so much gratitude to be around me. “
Ben Askren stands in his corner ahead of his welterweight match against Demian Maia from Brazil during the UFC Fight Night event at Singapore Indoor Stadium on October 26, 2019 in Singapore. (Jeff Bottari/Zuffa LLC via Getty Images)
Ben Askren released from the hospital after recovering double lung transplantation
Askren remembers going to the hospital in May with what he initially thought was a kind of back pain. Instead, the former fighter was placed on a fan in June and was eventually placed on the donor list for lung transplantation on June 24.
His operation was a success and Askren has taken to social media to update his fans and supporters as he continues his recovery journey. In his latest update this week, he told fans he was doing his “almost third shot today” around his hospital floor.
“Make some good progress. Hope you do the same with your lives.”
Ben Askren will attend a news conference for Triller Fight Club’s initial boxing event in 2021 at the Venetian Las Vegas on March 26, 2021 in Las Vegas. (Ethan Miller/Getty Images)
Asken, 40, 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.
He passed to the MMA matches when he debuted in Bellator in 2010. He competed in a championship before moving to the UFC. By 2021, Askren struggled Jake Paul in a boxing match, and he was knocked out in the first round.
