‘I only died four times': Ex-UFC star Ben Askren shares shocking health update after double lung transplant
Tired of too many ads?
Remove Ads
Tired of too many ads?
Remove Ads
Former UFC fighter Ben Askren shared an update on his health on Wednesday, June 9, 2025, just a week after he received a double lung transplant . In a video shared on Instagram, Askeren spoke about his recovery and revealed that he 'died four times' before having a double lung transplant after developing pneumonia following a bacterial infection. He also said that he 'can't recollect' what happened between May 28, 2025, and July 2, 2025.Askren, who retired from MMA in 2019 after a short stint in the UFC, was admitted to the hospital in Wisconsin in June 2025 and placed on a ventilator and put on the transplant list. In a video from his hospital bed, the American said he has lost 50 lb (more than three and a half stone, or 22.7 kg) in 45 days. "I haven't given you an update in a while," Askren said in the video."I figure you deserve one. Whenever this is all the way over, I actually just read through my wife's journal because I don't remember anything from May 28 to July 2. No recollection, zero idea, no idea what happened. We'll kind of go through it all. I just read through my wife's journal. It's like a movie. It's ridiculous. So, I only died four times when the ticker stopped for about 20 seconds. That's not ideal,' he said"But, I got the double lung transplant and made it to the other side of it. Gaining quite a bit of strength. Learning to use everything again, I was actually on a scale yesterday and weighed 147 pounds. I haven't been 147 pounds since I was 15 years old. So, I lost like 50 pounds in 45 days. Man, that was a battle. Other than that, I don't remember most of it," he added.Askren, a former MMA champion and Olympic wrestler, thanked fans and the wrestling community for all the wishes and said he is "more motivated than ever" to get back in shape and do what he can to help out. "The thing that was most impactful to me was all the love I felt from everybody," he said. "It was almost like I got to have my funeral. Right?"Askren's wife, Amy, wrote on Facebook in June 2025 that her husband was "completely healthy just five weeks ago," before he became ill. The couple has three children. Influencer-turned-boxer Jake Paul, who beat Askren in a boxing match in 2021, made a public plea for donations to be made for his recovery last week.Askren is considered one of the best American wrestlers of his generation and was a welterweight champion in Bellator and One Championship. He was undefeated in 20 fights when he signed for the UFC in 2019, in what was an unusual move in MMA. Askren retired from MMA with 19 wins in 22 fights.Askren won three Big 12 championships and two NCAA Division I championships in wrestling at Missouri, adding gold medals at the 2005 Pan American Championships and 2009 World Championships. He reached the quarterfinals at the 2008 Summer Olympics in Beijing.He transitioned to the Octagon after his wrestling career and compiled a 19-2 record with one no-contest in 22 MMA fights. Askren became the Bellator welterweight champion in 2010 and made his UFC debut in 2019. He lost two of three fights in UFC, including a five-second knockout loss to Jorge Masvidal in Las Vegas at UFC 239. Askren made an unsuccessful boxing debut on April 17, 2021, losing to Jake Paul by TKO in the first round.
Try Our AI Features
Explore what Daily8 AI can do for you:
Comments
No comments yet...
Related Articles
News18
3 hours ago
- News18
Tree Farming Goldmine: Invest Rs 200 In This Plant, Earn Rs 1 Lakh In Return!
A modest mahogany sapling, purchased for just Rs 200, has the surprising potential to turn one into a millionaire within a few years. Mahogany wood is in high demand across international markets, earning it the nickname 'king of timber' due to its durability, rich reddish-brown hue, and water-resistant qualities. It is particularly valued for the production of premium furniture, musical instruments, shipbuilding materials, and decorative pieces. Its high market price abroad has led to it being referred to as a 'money tree'. Increasingly, farmers are cultivating mahogany in their fields, finding it far more lucrative than traditional crops and requiring comparatively little effort. (Local18) At the Maa Sati Dakshayani Temple in Ratanada, near the Badmer district headquarters in Rajasthan's border region, a mahogany tree is thriving despite extreme temperatures reaching up to 50 degrees Celsius. Currently, it stands at a height of 8 to 10 feet. Temple priest Vasudev Joshi has nurtured the sapling with care and dedication over the past three years. He views the tree as a form of future savings, likening it to a fixed deposit, and anticipates a significant return once it reaches full maturity in approximately 12 years. (Local18) Beyond its timber, mahogany also holds medicinal value. Its seeds, leaves, and bark are used in the treatment of various ailments including cancer, malaria, diabetes, and diarrhoea. The leaves are also employed in the production of insecticides, soaps, paints, and mosquito repellents, while both seeds and leaves are key ingredients in certain potency-enhancing medicines. These diverse uses further add to the tree's overall worth. (Local18) The sapling, now standing between 8 and 12 feet tall, was originally discovered by Joshi on Facebook, from where he ordered it online for just Rs 200. Importantly, this evergreen species can grow to an impressive height of 50 to 60 feet, maturing fully after around 12 years, at which point its valuable wood may be harvested. For those seeking a long-term, low-maintenance investment, mahogany offers an exceptional opportunity. (Local18)
Time of India
4 hours ago
- Time of India
White House releases Trump's health reports, cites chronic venous insufficiency common at his age, criticizes Biden health cover-up
The White House has released President Donald Trump 's latest physician's letter , confirming that the 79-year-old president remains in 'excellent health' despite rumors about his physical condition. The detailed medical report addresses recent speculation regarding swelling in Trump's legs and visible bruises on his hands, aiming to set the record straight and reassure the American public. This proactive disclosure stands in sharp contrast to Trump's ongoing allegations that former President Joe Biden 's health issues were deliberately concealed during his presidency. Explore courses from Top Institutes in Select a Course Category healthcare MCA Operations Management Data Science Management Cybersecurity Digital Marketing Product Management others Finance Artificial Intelligence Data Science Technology Project Management PGDM Data Analytics Leadership Healthcare Public Policy Design Thinking CXO Others Degree MBA Skills you'll gain: Duration: 11 Months IIM Lucknow CERT-IIML Healthcare Management India Starts on undefined Get Details According to the letter from the White House medical team, President Trump has been diagnosed with chronic venous insufficiency – a condition frequently seen among seniors, in which vein function in the legs is reduced, leading to mild swelling. The physician emphasized that this is quite common at Trump's age and, crucially, there is no sign of more serious vascular issues such as deep vein thrombosis or arterial disease. The team also clarified concerns about the noticeable bruises on Trump's hands, explaining they result from frequent handshaking and the preventative use of aspirin, not from any blood disorder or acute illness. Routine testing confirmed that Trump's heart and kidney function are normal, and his essential health indicators remain stable and within normal limits. The physician's recommendations included sensible advice like regular walking, healthy eating, and using compression stockings if necessary. The timing of Trump's medical report release is significant. In recent weeks, President Trump has ramped up accusations that his predecessor, Joe Biden, and his staff engaged in a systemic cover-up of Biden's own health challenges. Trump argues that the American people were kept in the dark about what he calls 'cognitive decline' in Biden's final years in office. Live Events In a strongly worded statement, Trump described the alleged secrecy as 'one of the most dangerous and concerning scandals in American history,' referencing claims that Biden's executive power was quietly delegated while the autopen was used to sign key documents. Biden has consistently rebutted these charges, insisting, 'Let me be clear: I made the decisions during my presidency… Any suggestion that I didn't is ridiculous and false.' He has pointed out that the use of an autopen for signatures is a routine practice that precedes his administration. The battle over presidential health transparency has now become a central issue in Washington. Supporters of Trump praise the public release of his physician's report as evidence of openness and fitness to lead, while Democrats argue that there's no hard proof of a cover-up during Biden's presidency and maintain that his health and capacity to govern were never truly in question.
Time of India
6 hours ago
- Time of India
How much fat in a samosa? Schools to put up oil boards
Noida: After 'sugar boards', oil boards will be the next caution that schools affiliated with CBSE will advertise on campuses to discourage students from having processed and fried foods and promote healthy eating habits. The Central Board of Secondary Education (CBSE) on July 15 issued a circular, asking all schools to display 'oil boards' in common areas such as cafeterias and lobbies. On these digital or physical posters, the circular said, schools must list out fat or oil content in different food items, such as 28g fat in one piece of samosa, 10g fat in a kachori, and 17g fat in a handful of fries. The move, the board said, was announced keeping in view the trend of rising obesity levels among youngsters across India. You Can Also Check: Noida AQI | Weather in Noida | Bank Holidays in Noida | Public Holidays in Noida "Data points out that there is a sharp rise in obesity among both adults and children. As per NFHS-5 (2019-21), over one in five adults in urban areas are overweight or obese. According to The Lancet GBD 2021 obesity forecasting study, published in 2025, the number of overweight and obese adults in India is projected to rise from 18 crore in 2021 to 44.9 crore by 2050, making it the country with the second-highest global burden. by Taboola by Taboola Sponsored Links Sponsored Links Promoted Links Promoted Links You May Like American Investor Warren Buffett Recommends: 5 Books For Turning Your Life Around Blinkist: Warren Buffett's Reading List Undo The prevalence of childhood obesity is impacted mostly by poor dietary habits and reduced physical activity," the circular read. CBSE's directive is similar to the notice issued on May 14, which asked all schools to display 'sugar boards'. Parents and school managements in Noida and Ghaziabad said on Thursday that it was an important initiative. "We wholeheartedly welcome CBSE's directive to display 'oil boards'. This is a vital extension of the earlier 'sugar board' initiative, and it reflects a strong, unified approach to tackle childhood obesity and unhealthy dietary habits. These boards will serve as daily reminders — educating students on the dangers of excessive oil consumption, eating junk food like chips, fries, and even muffins, cookies and cakes," said Naresh Ramamurthy, the national academic head at ORCHIDS, The International School. Some schools said that they would also include questions on oil and sugar content in food items in the general knowledge (GK) syllabus or in quiz sessions. "For a long time, we promoted healthy food habits. We also make scheduled tiffin routines for all classes. When the 'sugar board' concept was introduced, we asked students to make wall magazines for classes and corridors. Now, we are planning to include 'fat-fact' pointers in the GK syllabus. Out of 50 marks, 10-20 points will be on food habits," said Seema Jerath, principal of DLF Public School, Ghaziabad. Principal of Apeejay School in Noida, Neha Sharma, said she will introduce 'nukad natak' and presentations on health food habits. "Putting sugar or oil boards on chart papers is not enough. To make students aware of healthy habits and internalise the facts, the school has decided to do something that will make students curious. We will conduct nukkad natak and convey the message to parents," Sharma said. Sujata, whose daughter studies in a CBSE school in Noida, said kids don't tend to listen to their parents. "Children are always inclined towards junk food, cold drinks and fast food. Since they spend most of their time in schools, keeping a healthy habit will definitely be a good choice. Moreover, when they see other classmates following the same, it will influence them," she said. Nishant, a Class 7 student, said schools can moderate junk food availability on the campus. "Tasty food is always desirable. If I get home made food that tastes good, I'm okay with it. Schools can allow junk food sometimes, if not always. But it's true that consumption of more oily food will lead to several issues when we grow up," he said.
