The former MMA champion and Welter weight of the UFC, Ben Askren, was hospitalized with severe pneumonia, his wife posted on social networks on Saturday.
“You may have heard that my husband Ben crosses something,” wrote Amy Askren on Facebook. “He has developed severe pneumonia which appeared very suddenly. He is currently in the hospital and unable to respond to anything at this time. We welcome all prayers for healing and peace.”
Amy then asked the public for the privacy of her family. The couple have three children together in Wisconsin.
Askren (19-2), who retired from MMA in 2019, was a double champion of the NCAA Division I in struggle and member of the 2008 US Olympic team. He won Welter weight titles in Bellator MMA and a championship, before making a high-level transition to the UFC at the last part of his career in 2019.
Askren went 1-2 to the UFC, with a victory over former champion Robbie Lawler.
