Former UFC fighter and Bellator champion Ben Askren is in vital situation after contracting pneumonia. After a number of stories that Askren was dealing with a major well being scare attributable to a staph an infection, a Fb publish by his spouse, Amy, was shared on social media.
“You might have heard that my husband Ben goes via one thing,” Amy Askren wrote within the Fb publish. “He developed extreme pneumonia which got here on very immediately. He is at present within the hospital and unable to reply to something right now. We welcome all prayers for therapeutic and for peace. We are attempting to maintain life as regular as attainable for our kids at present and doing our greatest to help them thoughtfully so please chorus from discussing it with them for now.”
Former UFC fighter Chael Sonnen additionally briefly addressed the situation on X, posting, “Ben is alive and prayers are wished. Household selecting privateness right now.”
Staphylococcal pneumonia is usually a severe situation stemming from a staph an infection, although only a few particulars of Askren’s diagnoses or standing are recognized past the posts by his spouse and Sonnen.
Askren was a Season 2 champion in Bellator earlier than successful the welterweight title in 2010. He would go on to efficiently defend that title 4 instances earlier than exiting the promotion nonetheless undefeated as an expert.
After a seven-fight stint with ONE FC, Askren was acquired by the UFC in an odd “commerce” that noticed the UFC ship Demetrious Johnson to ONE in alternate. Askren defeated Robbie Lawler earlier than shedding fights to Jorge Masvidal and Demian Maia, after which he retired from blended martial arts.
In 2021, Askren boxed Jake Paul, shedding by stoppage within the first spherical.
He and his spouse Amy have three kids.