Former MMA Champ Ben Askren Reveals He Lost 50 Pounds in 45 Days After Contracting Pneumonia and Undergoing a Double Lung Transplant: ‘I Only Died 4 Times’

Former MMA fighter and Olympian Ben Askren is no stranger to grueling challenges in the octagon, but his latest fight took place far from the ring — and nearly cost him his life. In a shocking and emotional revelation, Askren recently shared that he lost an astonishing 50 pounds in just 45 days after being hospitalized with severe pneumonia and undergoing a double lung transplant.

The 39-year-old former UFC and Bellator champion took to social media and interviews to detail the harrowing experience, which he described with both candor and his signature humor. “I only died four times,” he joked, giving fans a glimpse of the terrifying medical crisis that pushed his body to the edge.

Askren explained that his health took a dramatic downturn after he contracted a serious respiratory infection. “It started as what I thought was a cold or maybe mild pneumonia. I didn’t think much of it at first,” he recalled. But within days, his condition rapidly deteriorated. Doctors diagnosed him with a critical case of pneumonia that had damaged both lungs extensively. He was placed in intensive care and told that his only hope of survival was a double lung transplant.

“The doctors told me it was either a transplant or I wouldn’t make it. That’s when it really hit me — this wasn’t just a fight, this was the fight,” Askren said.

The surgery was a success, but the road to recovery was long and grueling. Askren said the rapid weight loss was one of the most alarming side effects of his illness and the post-surgical healing process. “I was eating, but nothing would stay. I was weak, tired, and just skin and bones. I lost 50 pounds in 45 days — and trust me, it wasn’t the diet I’d recommend,” he quipped.

Fans were shocked by photos showing the once-muscular fighter looking frail and thin. But true to his warrior spirit, Askren has begun the slow journey back to health. He’s already working with physical therapists and rebuilding strength — mentally and physically.

“I’m grateful to be alive. I have a second chance now, and I don’t take that lightly,” he said. “If sharing this story helps even one person take their health more seriously or believe they can overcome the odds, it’s worth it.”

Support has poured in from the MMA community, with fellow fighters, fans, and sports personalities praising Askren’s resilience and courage.

As a fighter who once dominated cages across the world, Ben Askren’s toughest battle didn’t happen inside an arena — it happened in a hospital bed. But like every great champion, he’s not just surviving — he’s fighting his way back, one breath at a time.