Ben Askren Says He 'Died Four Times' Before Double Lung Transplant: 'No Idea What Happened'

Retired MMA fighter and Olympic wrestler Ben Askren has revealed that he flatlined four times while he was battling "severe pneumonia" ahead of his double lung transplant.

"What's up guys, have not given you an update in a while, figured you deserve one," said Askren in an Instagram video taken from a hospital bed, in which he looked noticeably slimmer. "I actually just read through my wife's journal, because I don't remember anything from May 28 to July 2. No recollection, zero idea, no idea what happened."

He compared what happened to him, as detailed by his wife Amy in a journal, to that of a movie. "I only died four times," he said. "The ticker stopped for about 20 seconds. Less than ideal. I got the double lung transplant, I made it out the other side of it."

He said he lost a lot of weight because of his illness, as much as 50 pounds, and he now weighs about the same as he did when he was just 15 years old. Despite the ordeal he went through, he made sure to thank everyone for the support and love they shared as he recovers in the hospital.

"The thing that was most impactful to me was all the love I felt from everybody. It was almost like I got to have my own funeral," he said, getting emotional at the thought. "I still remember 30 years ago, when Dave Schultz died. He wasn’t always told—and people recollect—how much they enjoyed him, how much they loved him. And you know, obviously, he never got to hear that. ... I'm more motivated than ever to give back and do what I can and help out the best I can help out."

Last month, Ben's wife Amy revealed that he had been hospitalized in critical condition after suffering from "severe pneumonia" as a result of a staph infection. She later offered an update and said that he had made some improvements and would be receiving a double lung transplant. He announced his retirement from MMA in 2019, but fought a boxing match against Jake Paul in 2021.