Former Bellator champ and UFC fighter Ben Askren hospitalized for severe pneumonia: “unable to respond to anything”
The 40-year-old was hospitalised with symptoms of severe pneumonia.
On Saturday, June, 7, Ben Askren’s wife Amy wrote in a heartbreaking Facebook post that the former UFC fighter is currently in hospital after developing “severe pneumonia.”
Born on July 18, 1984, in Cedar Rapids, Iowa, Askren rose to prominence in collegiate wrestling, becoming a two-time NCAA Division I national champion and a four-time finalist for the University of Missouri.
He transitioned to MMA in 2009 before making his UFC debut a decade later. In 2021, Askren fought againstJake Paul in the social media star’s third career match.
You may have heard that my husband Ben is going through something. He developed severe pneumonia which came on very...
Posted by Amy Askren on Saturday, June 7, 2025
‘He developed severe pneumonia, which came on very suddenly’
“You may have heard that my husband Ben is going through something,” she wrote. “He developed severe pneumonia, which came on very suddenly. He’s currently in the hospital and unable to respond to anything at this time. We welcome all prayers for healing and for peace.“
“We are trying to keep life as normal as possible for our children currently and doing our best to support them thoughtfully so please refrain from discussing it with them for now,” concluded the post.
Askren runs the Askren Wrestling Academy, mentoring young athletes, and frequently appears as a commentator and analyst for broadcast channels. He has three children with his wife.
He was due to take up a move in wrestling, having signed with the new wrestling promotion company Real American Freestyle: “I just finished signing my Real American Freestyle contract,” Ben said in a social media post. “I’ve been waiting to wrestle. I kind of miss competition. I love fighting but I don’t have time for that anymore … I’m going to whip some of these young whippersnappers, show them what the f--- it’s all about.”
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