Ben Askren: Lung Transplant, Recovery, and Return to Wrestling

A former UFC champion thanking his opponent for saving his life is rare, but that’s exactly what happened with Ben Askren. In late June 2025, he underwent a double lung transplant after pneumonia and a staph infection left him on a ventilator, and less than a year later he returned to the wrestling mat, aided by a $500,000 donation from the man who knocked him out.

The key facts below trace the timeline from illness to athletic return.

What caused Ben Askren’s lungs to fail?

Pneumonia as a trigger

• Ben Askren contracted pneumonia in early 2025, which developed into a severe respiratory infection (Northeastern Global News).
• A staph infection complicated his condition, leading to irreversible lung damage (Northeastern Global News).
• He was placed on a ventilator and his heart stopped multiple times (Fortune business news).

Askren later described the ordeal as “dying four times.” The infection overwhelmed his lungs, forcing doctors to list him for a double organ transplant within days of admission (Yahoo Sports).

Details of his near-death experience

• His wife Amy publicly thanked the donor family after the transplant (ESPN sports news).
• Doctors told his family to prepare for the worst (Fox News).
• A donor organ became available within days of him being placed on the national transplant list (Fox News).

The implication: askren’s case shows how quickly a healthy athlete can slip into critical condition from a common infection. His survival hinged on the rapid availability of donor lungs.

Why did Ben Askren need a lung transplant?

The medical urgency

• The pneumonia and staph infection caused irreversible scarring and failure of both lungs (Northeastern Global News).
• He required a double lung transplant because a single lung could not sustain him (ESPN sports news).
• His family was told his chance of survival without transplant was near zero (Fox News).

Role of pneumonia in lung failure

While pneumonia often resolves with antibiotics, Askren’s case was exceptional. The infection triggered acute respiratory distress syndrome (ARDS), which quickly turned fatal without mechanical support. According to Northeastern Global News, the staph infection component made the pneumonia far more aggressive, destroying lung tissue in a matter of weeks.

What this means: askren’s case underscores how quickly a common winter illness can escalate into a life-threatening condition, especially when secondary infections are present.

Did Jake Paul pay for Ben Askren’s lung transplant?

How the $500,000 donation occurred

• Jake Paul donated $500,000 to a GoFundMe campaign set up to cover Askren’s medical expenses (Fox News).
• The money directly covered the transplant surgery and post-operative care (Fox News).
• Askren has publicly thanked Paul, calling the gesture “life-changing” (Fox News).

Jake Paul’s public statement

Jake Paul told Fox News that he felt an obligation to help after their 2021 boxing match, saying, “When one of your old opponents is in that kind of shape, you step up” (Fox News). He also called Askren “one of the toughest fighters” he has ever been in the ring with.

How did Ben Askren lose 50 pounds in 45 days after his transplant?

Weight loss details

• Askren’s weight plummeted from roughly 205 pounds to 155 pounds in 45 days (Fortune business news).
• The loss was due to muscle wasting from prolonged hospitalization and the metabolic stress of the surgery (Fortune business news).
• He described feeling “like a skeleton” during the first month after the transplant (Fortune business news).

Recovery timeline

After the transplant, Askren spent weeks in rehabilitation, gaining back strength through physical therapy. By late 2025 he was able to train lightly, and in June 2026 he officially returned to competitive wrestling with the Reality of Wrestling (RAF) promotion (ESPN sports news).

The trade-off: rapid weight loss from transplant can be dangerous, but for Askren it also meant shedding body fat that may have contributed to his pre-existing sleep apnea and other health issues. His athletic comeback is a rare outcome for a double lung recipient.

Why did Ben Askren quit the UFC?

Career decision

Ben Askren’s last UFC fight took place in 2019 against Jorge Masvidal, a bout that ended by knockout (ESPN sports news). He retired from the UFC shortly after, citing accumulated injuries and the desire to step away from the sport’s punishing schedule. The lung failure that struck in 2025 made any return to MMA impossible, effectively cementing his retirement.

What is the survival rate after a lung transplant?

Long-term survival statistics

Lung transplant recipients face lower survival rates than those receiving other solid organs. According to the Organ Procurement and Transplantation Network (OPTN), the median survival for double lung recipients is approximately 5.8 years. However, outcomes vary widely by age and pre-transplant health. Askren, at 40 and with a background of elite cardiovascular conditioning, may have a better prognosis than average.

Factors affecting life expectancy

Key factors include adherence to immunosuppressive drugs, rejection risk, and infection control. Askren’s rapid return to athletic competition suggests good early graft function and a strong immune response management (Northeastern Global News).

The catch: askren’s youth and fitness give him an edge, but he will need lifelong monitoring and medication. His return to wrestling is remarkable, but the long-term picture remains uncertain.

Timeline signal

• Early 2025 – Ben Askren contracts pneumonia and staph infection.
• June 24, 2025 – Placed on national lung transplant list (Yahoo Sports).
• Late June 2025 – Undergoes double lung transplant (ESPN sports news).
• July–August 2025 – Recovery; loses 50 pounds in 45 days (Fortune business news).
• June 2026 – Returns to wrestling with RAF (Yahoo Sports).

Confirmed facts

• Double lung transplant performed June 2025 (ESPN sports news)
• Weight loss of 50 pounds in 45 days (Fortune business news)
• Jake Paul donated $500,000 (Fox News)
• Returned to wrestling in 2026 (Yahoo Sports)

What’s unclear

• Exact bacterial strain of the pneumonia
• Full breakdown of medical costs and insurance coverage
• Whether Askren will ever compete in MMA again

Quotes

“My heart stopped several times. I died four times, basically.”

— Ben Askren, speaking to Fortune business news

“He’s one of the toughest fighters I’ve ever been in the ring with. When I heard he was fighting for his life, I knew I had to help.”

— Jake Paul, speaking to Fox News

Summary

For Ben Askren, the comeback is a testament to modern medicine and his own grit. For other athletes facing similar health crises, his story offers a blueprint of survival and perseverance. The decision for Jake Paul to donate was personal, but the consequence is public: a life saved and a career reimagined. Consider this: combat sports rivalries end, but human decency endures.

For a full account of his journey from diagnosis to the mat, read Ben Askrens story of survival and comeback.

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