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Ben Askren released from hospital after 59 days

Originally posted on MMA Weekly | By Jeff Cain | Last updated Jul 23, 2025 9:44 AM ET

Former UFC and Bellator fighter Ben Askren turned 41 and hoped to be released from the hospital on his birthday. Disappointed, but positive, Askren provided an update hoping to be discharged.

On Tuesday, Askren revealed that he had been released from the hospital after 59 days following having a double lung transplant surgery.

“Day 59, I’m out!” Askren said in a video update posted to social media. “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.”

In a previous update, Askren shared that he died four times but was able to be revived. He asked his wife, Amy, in the video, 'How close was I to dying?'

“Too close,” Amy responded. “A few times."

"I don't remember 35 days of this journey," Askren said. "I think surgery was 24, or 25 days ago. It was. hard."

Update #4- GOING HOME pic.twitter.com/O4Rx9Psyuu
— Funky (@Benaskren) July 22, 2025

During his health battle, Askren has received an outpouring of support from the combat sports community from well wishes to donations to help finance the expensive life-saving procedure.

“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,” Askren said. “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.”

This article first appeared on MMA Weekly and was syndicated with permission.

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