Ben Askren finally released from hospital after double lung transplant, near-fatal illness

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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.

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.

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.