The renowned fighter and former mixed martial arts (MMA) champion, Ben Askren, has been hospitalized in critical condition after developing severe pneumonia that appeared suddenly. This was confirmed by his wife, Amy Askren, in an emotional social media post. This case has moved the sports world, generating a great wave of support in the MMA and wrestling community.
Ben Askren is a retired American mixed martial artist and former Olympic wrestler. He was born on July 18, 1984, in Cedar Rapids, Iowa, United States.
He is known for his successful career in MMA, where he competed in various promotions, including Bellator and ONE Championship. Askren was a dominant welterweight fighter and held titles in both organizations.
Before transitioning to MMA, Askren was an accomplished amateur wrestler. He was a two-time NCAA Division I national champion and a four-time All-American while competing for the University of Missouri. He also represented the United States in freestyle wrestling at the 2008 Beijing Olympics.
Askren is known for his grappling skills and unorthodox fighting style. He retired from professional MMA competition in 2019 after a brief stint in the UFC.
- Olympian in 2008 (freestyle wrestler representing the USA).
- Two-time NCAA Division I champion at the University of Missouri, with an impressive 15-38 record
- Champion in two MMA organizations: Bellator (title defended four times) and ONE Championship
- In 2018, he was “traded” to the UFC in exchange for Demetrious Johnson.
- Retired from UFC in 2019 with a record of 1-2 (including a win over Robbie Lawler)
He returned to action in a boxing match against Jake Paul in 2021, losing by TKO in the first round.
Why is Olympic wrestler Ben Askren in critical condition?
According to Amy Askren’s statement published on June 7, 2025, Ben Askrencontracted severe pneumonia suddenly, which has left him unresponsive, according to his wife
In addition, there are indications that there may be a staph infection complicating its evolution. An informant from the Wrestling Room, Pat Mineo, also confirmed the presence of this infection along with the pneumonia.
Reaction from Ben Askren’s family and the sporting world
Amy explicitly asked in her Facebook post:
- Prayers for recovery and peace.
- Discretion and privacy for their three children (Alex, Andy and Ozi), avoiding exposing them to conversations about their father Ben Askren’s health
Other members of the MMA community have expressed concern:
- Chael Sonnen, a former UFC professional fighter, tweeted: “Ben is alive and prayers are requested. The family chooses privacy at this time.”
- Henry Cejudo, former double Olympic champion, publicly asked: “Pray for Ben Askren.”
- Renowned journalist Ariel Helwani also expressed his support: “Positive thoughts for Ben Askren…”
Just last month he signed with wrestling company Real American Freestyle, founded by Hulk Hogan. However, hours later he was hospitalized, interrupting his sporting plans.
Ben Askren’s admission to hospital in a critical condition with severe pneumonia and possibly a staph infection has generated a great solidarity movement in the sporting world. His wife Amy Askren, is asking for prayers and calm, especially for the well-being of their three children.
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