Former UFC welterweight Ben Askren shared some positive news on Tuesday.
The mixed martial arts star posted a video to social media announcing that he had at last been released from the hospital after a long recovery process following a double lung transplant in late June.
"Day 59, I'm out," Askren said. "That was a long journey, and it's not over, cause I still can't really walk. I need to re-teach myself how to do that, among many other things."
Askren was hospitalized in early June with a severe case of pneumonia after the 40-year-old retired fighter contracted a staph infection.
The Iowa native, who lives and coaches wrestling in Wisconsin, had been on a ventilator and ECMO machine (extracorporeal membrane oxygenation) since mid-June.
Before undergoing surgery, Askren's family had started a fundraising campaign by selling custom t-shirts with the proceeds going to help pay for his medical bills.
"The support you guys gave me, whether it was setting up a GoFundMe, whether it was helping my kids and wife get through it, I had friends coming from all over the country just to like, hang out for a couple days. It meant so much. It was so great to have all the support and all the love," an emotional Askren said through tears.
Askren was Bellator MMA’s longtime 170-pound champion and also won ONE FC’s welterweight title before his contract was transferred to the UFC in 2018.
Askren’s UFC career only lasted one memorable year as he defeated former UFC welterweight champ Robbie Lawler in his promotional debut, then lost to Jorge Masvidal and Demian Maia all in 2019.
He also participated in one boxing match in 2021 when he became Jake Paul’s third professional opponent and the first MMA fighter to challenge the YouTuber-turned-boxer. Paul spoke about Askren’s situation recently during press events for his boxing match with Julio César Chávez Jr., which he won. Paul wished Askren well and said he wanted to help with the donations.
Before beginning mixed martial arts in 2009, Askren was a standout amateur freestyle wrestler, a two-time Division 1 collegiate national wrestling champion and represented the United States at the 2008 Summer Olympics.
Askren has dedicated his post-fighting career to coaching.
-- WIth files from Mike Johnston
