Ben Askren was on his literal deathbed earlier this year after a severe case of pneumonia caused by a staph infection and underwent a double lung transplant. Askren lost much of his weight during the medical emergency and had to relearn walking and other basic motor skills.
Askren, a former UFC welterweight champion, received tremendous support from the combat sports community. UFC CEO Dana White helped fund Askren’s medical expenses, along with a slew of other top names in MMA.
Just months removed from being on the verge of losing his life, Askren returns to one of his greatest passions: wrestling.
Ben Askren concludes a remarkable story of resilience with a return to wrestling
In a recent post on XAskren shared an inspiring message to his fans as he returned to the mats.
So @de_rudis sent me a pair of shoes and I just couldn’t help myself…
4 months ago I was on my deathbed
Three months ago I couldn’t stand without help
2 months ago I was still using a walkerWhat’s your excuse?? Tie them up tight and let’s get started 👊👊👊
Couldn’t be more… pic.twitter.com/pRdFouwZnO
— Funky 🇺🇸🇺🇸🇺🇸 (@Benaskren) November 7, 2025
“Four months ago I was on my deathbed, three months ago I couldn’t stand without help, two months ago I was still using a walker. What’s your excuse? Give them time and let’s get started,” Askren said.
“I couldn’t be more grateful to be back at it and for all the support the community gave me during such a difficult time.”
Askren retired from MMA in 2020 after a loss to Demian Maia. He returned to combat sports in 2021, losing in his only professional boxing match to Jake Paul.
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