Former Missouri and Olympic wrestler, and MMA star Ben Askren, who has been hospitalized in Wisconsin after a severe case of pneumonia, said in a post on social media Wednesday that he had undergone a double lung transplant and is in recovery.

Ben stepped down from professional mixed martial arts in 2019, and he suffered from a serious health crisis in 2025. Learn more about the decorated ex-fighter and wrestler.

The latest update from Amy Askren, the former UFC star’s wife, was a positive one last week as she confirmed he had been given a double lung transplant. The expensive surgery wasn’t covered by their insurance, but the family received support from the fight world through online donations.