Ben Askren health update: Chael Sonnen provides latest on former MMA star, 2x NCAA wrestling champion

Ben Askren was transported from Nevada to Wisconsin but remains in the hospital per Chael Sonnen. The former UFC title challenger provided the latest on Askren, who is reportedly battling pneumonia and a staph infection.

Askren, a former MMA star who was champion in two promotions, was also a two-time NCAA champion at Missouri. He made the finals four times during his collegiate wrestling career.

His wife Amy confirmed Askren was unable to respond in the hospital and prayers were needed. Sonnen reported that the man they called “Funky” needs a lung transplant.

“One of the things the family really wanted to do was to get Ben, like this was priority number one, they wanted to get Ben from Nevada where he was to Wisconsin,” Sonnen said on his YouTube channel. “Just geographically speaking, if this is to be the end, they wanted it in Wisconsin. So, at this point in the story, we all find out that Ben needs a lung transplant. There was a hole in his lung. For the information that I’ve been given, he don’t have an answer as to how or I guess as to even why there was a hole in his lung. But while the family is working on that, they were able to get Ben from Nevada to Wisconsin.

“I was able to speak to the lovely Amy, Ben’s wife, one time. She did it make it clear in this one time that we talked that there wasn’t going to be a lot of talking, but what was really hoped for was prayers and thoughts.”

A pioneer of the sport of wrestling due to his style, Askren was nicknamed “Funky.” He brought his wrestling style to the modern age, where he would put himself in unorthodox positions to win scrambles in order to secure takedowns and pins.

At the senior level, Askren won the 2008 Olympic Trials at 74 KG and represented Team USA at the 2008 Summer Olympics in Beijing. He went 1-1 at the tournament and did not medal.

After not placing at the 2010 World Team Trials, Askren fully transitioned into MMA. Following three fights on the regional scene, Askren was signed by Bellator and proceeded to win the welterweight belt and remained undefeated in his time with the promotion. He then signed with ONE FC, going 6-0 with one no-contest and was the welterweight champion.

Although past his prime and initially retired, Askren returned to mixed martial arts in March of 2019 with the UFC and defeated former champion Robbie Lawler by submission in his debut, getting to 19-0 in his career. However, he would lose to Jorge Masvidal in a would-be title eliminator to challenge Kamaru Usman for the belt. Masvidal knocked out Askren in five seconds with a flying knee. He ended his career with a loss to fellow grappler and long-time fighter Demian Maia.

Since his retirement, Askren had surgery on his hip and hadn’t felt that good in a long time. He’s been coaching at his Askren Wrestling Academy in Wisconsin, where he’s coached up national champions such as Keegan O’Toole (Missouri) and Mitchell Mesenbrink (Penn State). Recently, Askren signed with Real American Freestyle, a new pro league founded by Hulk Hogan. You can find more information on the league HERE.