Latest news with #AmyAskren
Time of India
9 hours ago
- Entertainment
- Time of India
Who is Ben Askren's wife? Ex-UFC star's spouse warns fans of scam accounts
Amy Askren, wife of former UFC and Olympic wrestler Ben Askren, is speaking out to protect fans. Amy Askren, a licensed realtor based in Wisconsin, studied finance at the University of Missouri and has been a steady support for Ben Askren since they married in 2010. Tired of too many ads? go ad free now On July 21, 2025, she posted on Instagram and X about scam accounts pretending to be her. These fake profiles were using her name to ask for money while Ben recovers from a double lung transplant. Amy Askren shared screenshots of these phishing messages and stressed she would never request donations from personal accounts, asking followers to report imposters immediately. What Amy Askren said about fake accounts targeting Ben Askren's fans On Monday, July 21, Amy Askren alerted followers via her social media pages from their Wisconsin home, where Ben Askren is now recovering. She said, 'Someone made up a Twitter account under my name,' and added that people were using Ben Askren's health crisis to make fake money requests. Amy Askren spotted the scam after a fan received a message asking for funds. She responded, 'This is NOT me!!!' She asked people to block or report these fake accounts and to only trust messages that come directly from her verified profiles. Amy Askren explains why fans should be careful Amy Askren explained that scammers are targeting well-meaning fans who want to help. She said they create fake profiles that look real, then use heartfelt stories to get money. Amy Askren stressed that any donation request should come from official channels, like verified posts or the family's GoFundMe page. The transplant happened after Ben Askren was hospitalized on June 7, 2025, fighting severe pneumonia and a staph infection. On June 30, he received a double lung transplant at a Las Vegas hospital and has since been recovering at home. Amy Askren also thanked followers for their support and urged them to stay sharp. She wants everyone to know they are safe using trusted accounts only. The family appreciates the love and caution during this time as Ben Askren continues to heal. Also Read:
The Independent
10 hours ago
- Health
- The Independent
Ben Askren shares tearful update as former UFC star is finally released from hospital
Ben Askren shared a tearful thank-you message on Tuesday, as the former UFC star was finally released from hospital after undergoing a successful double lung transplant. Askren, a former Olympic wrestler and MMA champion, retired from combat sports in 2021 at the age of 36. But this spring, at just 40, the American suddenly faced a complicated health issue. His wife, Amy, revealed that Askren was battling 'severe pneumonia', and a concerning episode eventually led to the ex-fighter having a double lung transplant. In early July, Askren addressed fans for the first time since his health scare began, appearing emotional in a video that showed how much weight and energy he had lost. ' I only died four times, where the ticker stopped for about 20 seconds,' he said at the time. Now, Askren has shared another tearful update, yet a more celebratory one. Having finally been released from hospital, Askren said in a social-media video on Tuesday: 'Day 59, I'm out! With my beautiful wife supportive. 'That was a long journey, and it's not over because I still can't really walk. I have to re-teach myself to do that among many other things. I guess I can make light of it because it was me and I don't really remember it. But Amy how close was I to dying?' Askren turned to his wife, who replied, 'Too close, a few times,' before Askren continued: 'I remember [that] I don't remember 35 days of this journey, but I think surgery was 24, 25 days ago. It was hard. It was hard.' Becoming tearful, Askren said: 'I've said this already in one of the videos, but the support you guys gave me – whether it was setting up a GoFundMe, whether it was helping my kids and wife get through it, I had friends come from all over the country just to hang out for a couple of days – it meant so much. It was so great to have all the support and all the love. 'Hopefully I'm not in this situation again for a really, really, really long time; I plan on living a while. So, thank you guys again for all of the positive support, all of the comments online, everything. It means so much, love you guys.' Askren went to the 2008 Olympics as a Team USA wrestler, before beginning an MMA career in which he won the Bellator and ONE welterweight titles and stayed unbeaten until his final two fights. His last three fights all took place in the UFC in 2019, as he submitted Robbie Lawler before suffering a record-setting five-second knockout by Jorge Masvidal and a submission by Demian Maia. Askren then boxed once, facing YouTuber Jake Paul in 2021 and falling to a first-round knockout. He has not competed in any combat sport since.
The Sun
12 hours ago
- Health
- The Sun
Ben Askren's wife admits he was ‘too close' to dying ‘a few times' as ex-UFC star leaves hospital after eight weeks
BEN ASKREN'S wife admits he was 'too close' to dying after the former UFC star left hospital. Askren, 41, was rushed to the ER last month with a severe case of pneumonia. 3 3 3 The UFC legend was forced to undergo a double lung transplant. And Askren revealed 12 days ago that he 'died four times' on the operating table. The former welterweight star had been in hospital for eight whole weeks as he recovered from surgery. But Askren has now been released back home after a gruelling time away. He appeared with wife Amy to give fans an update on his condition. And Askren's other half revealed that he had been 'too close' to passing away throughout his ordeal. Askren first said: 'What's up guys? Day 59, I'm out. 'That was a long journey and it's not over because I still can't really walk, gotta re-teach myself to do that among many other things. 'I guess I can make light of it because it was me… and I don't really remember it, but Amy, how close was I to dying?' Wife Amy replied: 'Too close, a few times.' Askren added: 'Hopefully I'm not in this situation again for a really, really long time. I plan on living a while.' Askren's emotional message came a week after he opened up on his lungs getting 'stolen.' He said: 'I'm gonna plead guilty, I felt bad for myself one time. 'And that doesn't do anyone any good. 'Man, I never smoked one cigarette.' Never smoked any weed, why did my lungs get stolen from me? 'Why isn't this happening to someone who smokes? Then I realised, it happened. I can be bitter and angry, I could whine and cry, but that's not going to help anybody. 'I am where I am now and I'm going to move forward the best that I can.'
Fox News
17 hours ago
- Health
- Fox News
Ben Askren released from hospital after grueling double-lung transplant recovery
Former UFC fighter Ben Askren announced he was released from a hospital Tuesday after a battle with severe pneumonia led to a double-lung transplant. The 40-year-old Askren posted a video update from his vehicle, which his wife Amy was driving after he was released from the hospital. On "day 59," Askren explained how he lost 50 pounds while being hospitalized. Even worse, he described coming close to dying. "I'm out, with my beautiful wife. Supportive. Man, that was a long journey, and it's not over because I still can't really walk," Askren said in the video. "I [have to] keep reteaching myself to do that, among many other things. I guess I can make light of it because it was me, and I don't really remember it. But Amy, how close was I to dying?" After a pause, Askren's wife responded, "Too close. A few times." "Ah, man," Askren continued. "I don't remember 35 days of this journey, but I think surgery was 24-25 days ago. It was hard, it was hard. And I said this already in one of my videos, but the support you guys gave me, whether it was sending a GoFundMe, whether it was helping my kids and wife get through it – I had friends from all over the country come to visit and hang out for a couple of days – it meant so much. It was so great to just have all this support and all the love, and hopefully I'm not in this situation again for a really, really, really long time. I plan on living a while. "So, thank you guys, again. All the positive support. All the comments online. Everything. It means so much. Love you guys." In a previous video, Askren said it was "like a movie" that he didn't remember anything from May 28 to July 2. I only died four times, where the ticker stopped for about 20 seconds," he said. "But I got the double lung transplant. I made it out to the other side of it. Gaining quite a bit of strength. Learning to use everything again. I was on the scale yesterday, 147 pounds. I haven't been 147 pounds since 15 years old. … So, that was a battle. I don't remember most of it." Amy Askren said in early July her husband received a donor for the double lung transplant and was asking for prayers. Askren recently signed with Real American Freestyle, the Hulk Hogan venture hoping to popularize professional freestyle wrestling. The 40-year-old was an NCAA champion in the 170-pound division in 2006 and 2007 and competed for Team USA in the 2008 Olympics. He won gold medals at the 2005 Pan American Championships and the 2009 World Championships. Askren fully transitioned to MMA fighting when he debuted in Bellator in 2010. He competed in ONE Championship before moving to the UFC. Askren fought Robbie Lawler and won by submission at UFC 235 before falling to Jorge Masvidal. Then, in 2021, Askren fought Jake Paul in a boxing match, and he was knocked out in the first round.
Yahoo
a day ago
- Entertainment
- Yahoo
Ben Askren finally released from hospital after double lung transplant, near-fatal illness
UFC veteran Ben Askren has been released from the hospital after his battle with severe pneumonia. Askren, 40, spoke for the first time since his hospitalization earlier this month after he received a double lung transplant as a result of the sudden illness, which was first revealed in June. In his first video update, Askren revealed that he lost 50 pounds throughout his hospitalization and struggle for survival, and that he'll continue to share his progress with the world as his recovery journey continues. Advertisement On Tuesday, the former multiple-organization MMA champion shared his latest emotional update from the passenger seat of his car, as he continues to look and sound significantly healthier. Ben Askren: What's up, guys? Day 59. I'm out, with my beautiful wife. Supportive. Man, that was a long journey, and it's not over because I still can't really walk. I [have to] keep reteaching myself to do that, among many other things. I guess I can make light of it because it was me, and I don't really remember it. But Amy, how close was I to dying? Amy Askren: Too close. A few times. Ben Askren: Ah, man. I don't remember 35 days of this journey, but I think surgery was 24-25 days ago. It was hard. It was hard. And I said this already in one of my videos, but the support you guys gave me, whether it was sending a GoFundMe, whether it was helping my kids and wife get through it — I had friends from all over the country come to visit and hang out for a couple of days — it meant so much. It was so great to just have all this support and all the love, and hopefully I'm not in this situation again for a really, really, really long time. I plan on living a while. So thank you guys, again. All the positive support. All the comments online. Everything. It means so much. Love you guys." Askren, 40, was widely regarded as one of the sport's best wrestlers throughout his MMA career, thanks to his impressive collegiate wrestling background at the University of Missouri. Askren won his first three pro MMA fights before he signed to Bellator MMA in 2010. In his fourth fight with the company, Askren won the Bellator welterweight title. He successfully defended his belt four times before signing with ONE Championship and winning the company's 185-pound welterweight title, which he defended three times. Advertisement In 2018, Askren was a part of the first and only real "MMA trade" when ONE Championship and UFC agreed to swap Askren and former UFC flyweight champion Demetrious Johnson. The collegiate wrestling legend underwent hip surgery following his final UFC fight against Demian Maia in October 2019 and subsequent MMA retirement, however "Funky" has otherwise maintained an excellent physical condition, focusing on coaching at his Askren Wrestling Academy in Wisconsin. In 2021, Askren returned to compete in his professional boxing debut opposite Jake Paul. Outside of that lone appearance, he's remained true to his retirement from combat sports. In recent days, Askren has reiterated in his update videos that he still plans to remain a fixture in the wrestling community as time goes on, running his Askren Wrestling Academy in Wisconsin. And despite his retirement from combat sports, he's remained a fighter in what has been the biggest fight of his life.
