Ex-MMA star Ben Askren battling 'severe pneumonia' in hospital, wife says

Ben Askren, a erstwhile mixed martial arts rival who fought successful the Olympics and UFC, was hospitalized precocious with a terrible illness, his woman said successful a station connected societal media.

Amy Askren revealed that her hubby was warring disconnected a sickness successful a station connected Facebook connected Saturday.

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Ben Askren speaks during a quality league for Triller Fight Club's inaugural boxing lawsuit astatine The Venetian Las Vegas connected March 26, 2021. (Ethan Miller/Getty Images)

"You whitethorn person heard that my hubby Ben is going done something. He developed terrible pneumonia which came connected precise suddenly," she wrote. "He’s presently successful the infirmary and incapable to respond to thing astatine this time. 

"We invited each prayers for healing and for peace. We are trying to support beingness arsenic mean arsenic imaginable for our children presently and doing our champion to enactment them thoughtfully truthful delight refrain from discussing it with them for now."

Ben Askren precocious signed with Real American Freestyle – the Hulk Hogan task hoping to popularize nonrecreational freestyle wrestling.

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Olympian Ben Askren points to the assemblage arsenic helium enters the mat during the Beat the Streets "Grapple astatine the Garden" connected May 6, 2019, successful New York. (Danielle Parhizkaran/NorthJersey.com)

Askren, 40, was an NCAA champion successful the 170-pound part successful 2006 and 2007 and went connected to vie for Team USA successful the 2008 Olympics. He won golden medals successful the 2005 Pan American Championships and the 2009 World Championships.

He made his afloat modulation to MMA warring erstwhile helium debuted successful Bellator successful 2010. He past competed successful ONE Championship earlier taking connected UFC.

Ben Askren during UFC 235 astatine T-Mobile Arena successful Las Vegas, March 2, 2019. (Stephen R. Sylvanie-USA Today Sports)

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He defeated Robbie Lawler via submission astatine UFC 235 earlier helium mislaid to Jorge Masvidal successful a high-profile bout. In 2021, helium fought Jake Paul successful a boxing match.

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