Jun 27, 2026 · 1h 6m

UFC champion Ben Askren survives near-death infection and double lung transplant

How UFC Star Ben Askren Cheated Death - #1116

This episode reveals how the mental discipline of elite athletics can become a literal tool for survival during a sudden, catastrophic medical crisis.

3 key takeaways

1A routine staph infection escalated rapidly, requiring a life-saving double lung transplant and weeks in a medical coma.
2Athletic resilience and a lifetime of wrestling training proved vital in surviving extreme weight loss and a grueling physical recovery.
3The near-death experience shifted Askren's focus toward family, youth coaching, and advocating for character-building sports.

Don't miss

Ben Askren describes the surreal shock of waking up from a 37-day coma to discover he had undergone a double lung transplant despite a lifetime of elite health.

The brief

Former Olympic wrestler and UFC champion Ben Askren went from peak physical fitness to a 37-day coma after a routine back spasm turned out to be a life-threatening staph infection that destroyed his lungs.

Waking up to discover he had undergone a double lung transplant, Askren had to rebuild his body from a frail 138 pounds, relying on the extreme mental toughness and discipline forged during his championship wrestling career.

Askren argues that talent is a myth, attributing his athletic success and medical survival entirely to hard work, a white-belt growth mindset, and the rigorous character-building nature of wrestling.

Now navigating life on immunosuppressants, Askren has shifted his focus toward family, coaching youth sports, and aiming to break the long-term survival record for post-transplant patients.

Featuring

Ben Askren