Ben Askren: Lung Transplant, Recovery & Wrestling Return

Ben Askren went from the Olympic wrestling mat to the UFC cage, but nothing prepared him for the fight that nearly took his life. In 2025, a severe staph infection triggered pneumonia that destroyed his lungs, leading to a double lung transplant and a recovery that seemed impossible.

Age (as of 2024): 40 · MMA Record: 19-2-0 · Lung Transplant Year: 2025 · Donation from Jake Paul & Dana White: $500,000 · Return to Wrestling: 2026 (announced)

Seven key facts about Ben Askren, spanning his Olympic roots to the lung transplant that reshaped his life.

What had happened to Ben Askren?

In late May 2025, Askren was admitted to hospital with severe pneumonia stemming from a staph infection on his elbow (TMZ). The infection progressed rapidly, forcing doctors to put him in a coma and eventually perform a double lung transplant (MMA Junkie).

Ben Askren’s near-death experience

• Askren was the first signing for Real American Freestyle in May 2025, just before his health collapsed (TMZ).
• He spent weeks in intensive care, and his family was told to prepare for the worst (MMA Junkie).

Return to wrestling after double lung transplant

In June 2026, Askren announced he would wrestle again, calling it “a heavy weight lifted” and “a return to the mat” (TMZ). The move shocked the combat sports world, which had assumed his athletic career was over.

The implication: A double lung transplant survivor rarely returns to elite sport. Askren’s decision frames his second chapter around wrestling, not MMA.

Why did Ben Askren need a lung transplant?

Pneumonia and lung failure

• Askren’s lung failure began with a staph infection that led to pneumonia (TMZ).
• The infection caused irreversible damage, requiring a double lung transplant (MARCA).

Details of the transplant procedure

The transplant reportedly cost around $2 million, and insurance did not cover the full amount, triggering a fundraiser (MARCA).

Why this matters: Without the community donations, Askren might not have received the surgery in time. The financial burden on athletes without full coverage is rarely discussed.

What caused Ben Askren’s lungs to fail?

Severe pneumonia leading to respiratory failure

• The pneumonia was triggered by a staph infection that entered through his elbow (TMZ).
• Doctors placed him in a medically induced coma as his lungs stopped functioning (MMA Junkie).

Role of prior health and athletic condition

Despite being a former Olympic wrestler and elite MMA fighter, Askren’s athletic fitness did not protect him from the staph infection. His case highlights how bacterial infections can override even peak physical condition.

The catch: No amount of training can prevent a systemic infection once it reaches the lungs.

Why did Ben Askren quit the UFC?

UFC exit and retirement from MMA

• Askren retired from MMA in 2019 after a loss to Demian Maia at UFC Fight Night 162 (Fighters Only).
• His UFC record stands at 1-2 through three fights, including the infamous flying-knee KO by Jorge Masvidal and a submission win over Robbie Lawler (Wikipedia).

Return to wrestling as a new chapter

After his health crisis, Askren chose wrestling over MMA, signing with Real American Freestyle in 2026. This marks a return to his original sport (TMZ). It’s a full-circle move: the sport that built his brand now gives him a second career.

The trade-off: MMA’s financial rewards are larger, but wrestling poses less impact on his new lungs.

Who donated $500,000 to Ben Askren?

Jake Paul’s donation and obligation

• Jake Paul, who fought Askren in a 2021 boxing match (Wikipedia), publicly urged fans to donate, saying “Say a prayer for Ben Askren” (National Wrestling Hall of Fame).
• In July 2025, reports indicated Paul made a $500,000 donation toward the transplant (Yahoo Sports).

Dana White’s contribution

• UFC president Dana White also contributed, later confirming, “I usually don’t talk about that stuff. But yes I did. I did.” (Sports Illustrated).
• Askren described both donors as “very generous” and noted that every donation mattered, large or small (Sports Illustrated).

Community support and thoughts and prayers

The combat-sports community rallied when insurance wouldn’t cover the full cost (Sports Illustrated). The National Wrestling Hall of Fame amplified the call, asking for thoughts and prayers (National Wrestling Hall of Fame).

What this means: The donation narrative is often simplified to “Jake Paul paid for the transplant,” but the reality is more complex — Paul and White each contributed, and the total of $500,000 covered only part of a $2 million procedure.

For Ben Askren, the mat isn’t a place of nostalgia — it’s the proving ground of his second life. The double lung transplant gave him a chance, but the choice to wrestle again is his alone. For combat sports fans, the takeaway is stark: the same community that cheered his fights also paid for his lungs. The next time a fighter retires, the question might not be “Will they return?” but “Who will step up if they don’t?”

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