MMA champ facing lung transplant after sudden illness

• Mixed martial arts veteran Ben Askren has been hospitalized with severe pneumonia and may require a lung transplant.
• His wife, Amy Askren, shared on Facebook that he is currently on a ventilator and ECMO for lung support.
• She said she is “praying for a miracle with his current lungs”, but an evaluation process for a lung transplant has begun.
• Askren, 40, was an Olympic wrestler and MMA champion who retired from combat sports in 2021.
• His wife said he fell ill very suddenly, stating he was previously very healthy.

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Ben Askren’s wife ‘praying for miracle’ as MMA veteran battles pneumonia