Former UFC fighter Ben Askren revealed he "died four times" before receiving a double lung transplant after pneumonia developed from a bacterial infection.
Idman.biz, citing BBC, reports that the 40-year-old, who was hospitalized in June in Wisconsin, lost 50 lbs in 45 days and has no memory of the events between May 28 and July 2.
"I only died four times. The ticker stopped for about 20 seconds," Askren shared from his hospital bed on Instagram. Once a Bellator and ONE Champion, Askren thanked fans for their support, saying it felt like attending his own funeral. His wife, Amy, said he was completely healthy just five weeks before the illness. Jake Paul, who defeated Askren in 2021, even urged fans to donate for his recovery. Despite retiring in 2019, Askren remains a respected name in wrestling and MMA. Now on the road to recovery, he says he's "more motivated than ever" to return to fitness and help others.
Idman.biz
