UFC cult hero Ben Askren rushed to hospital with ‘severe’ health issue as wife reveals he is ‘unresponsive’
Former MMA world champion and Team USA Olympian Ben Askren has been rushed to hospital and is in critical condition.
Reports surfaced this weekend that Askren had been hospitalised, with some claiming the 40-year-old had been suffering from a staph infection.
The news led to an outpouring of support from the MMA community, with former UFC star Chael Sonnen writing on X: ‘Ben is alive and prayers are wanted. Family choosing privacy at this time.’
On Saturday Askren’s wife Amy posted on Facebook to clarify that her husband is unresponsive after being hospitalised following a sudden bout of pneumonia.
She also asked for fans to respect the privacy of their three children.
‘You may have heard that my husband Ben is going through something,’ Amy posted on Facebook.
Former MMA world champion Ben Askren is unresponsive in hospital according to a social media post made by his wife
On Saturday Amy Askren(left) announced on Facebook that the 40-year-old is suffering from severe pneumonia
The post also asked fans to respect the privacy of the couple’s three children during the ordeal
‘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.’
Known for his suffocating grappling skills, Askren made his MMA debut in 2009 after a decorated collegiate wrestling career that saw him become a two-time NCAA division 1 champion.
The 2008 Olympian would go on a decade-long undefeated streak inside the cage, winning world titles in Bellator and ONE and was widely regarded as one of the best fighters in the world outside the UFC.
Despite a fractious relationship with UFC president Dana White, Askren would go on to make his Octagon debut in 2019 after a trade deal involving former flyweight champion Demetrious Johnson.
Askren won world titles with both Bellator and ONE Championship before signing with the UFC in 2018
He later ventured into boxing, losing to Jake Paul via first-round TKO in April of 2021
After defeating Robbie Lawler in his UFC debut, Askren would go on to suffer back-to-back losses against Jorge Masvidal and Demian Maia before announcing his retirement from the sport.
Despite undergoing major hip surgery after hanging up his gloves, helater returned to competition, losing to Jake Paul via first-round TKO in April 2021.
Since then Askren has co-hosted the Funky and the Champ podcast alongside his Olympic team-mate Daniel Cormier.
Askren also recently signed with Real American Freestyle—an amateur wrestling promotion headed by WWE legend Hulk Hogan and former WCW executive Eric Bischoff.
