Ex-UFC star discusses terrifying reality of staph infection as Ben Askren remains unresponsive with pneumonia

Ben Askren remains in critical condition with severe pneumonia and a reported staph infection. His wife shared that Askren is currently unresponsive in the hospital.

Former UFC lightweight fighter Josh Thomson recently spoke about the terrifying speed of staph infections. He recalled how a teammate’s small blemish swelled dangerously within just a few hours, requiring emergency care.

John McCarthy validated Thomson's comments by pointing out that infections like MRSA (Methicillin-resistant Staphylococcus aureus) are a constant threat to fighters, who endure skin abrasions and constant contact in training.

Speaking in a recent episode of the WEIGHIN IN podcast, Thomson said:

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“Well, I was trying to tell like Josh Kohchech, before he could really get any fights. He had fought like twice in some tournament in Reno that Trevor Prangley was putting on. A fight up in Idaho. We left San Jose to drive up to Idaho. He was going to fight like two days later. By the time we got there, he had a little tiny like pimple on the back of his hamstring. We drove 15 hours. By the time we got there, I had to rush him to emergency. That’s how fast it happens."

He added:

"I had a buddy in high school, he almost lost his foot. He was a high school kid, really good soccer player. His ankle started swelling a little bit all of a sudden. Literally they took him in to the doctor the next morning. His mom took him in. The doctor said, ‘Luckily you brought him in. We would have had to amputate.’ So infected. They had to basically get him on antibiotics right away. Pump him full of IVs, everything. Man, just crazy. Crazy. He almost lost his foot. And being a soccer player, you lose your foot.”

Check out Josh Thomson's comments below (1:06:20):

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Dillon Danis puts feud aside to support Ben Askren

Ben Askren’s fight for life has united the MMA community, and among those offering prayers is Dillon Danis, a longtime rival. Danis surprised fans by putting aside past tensions to send a heartfelt message.

Askren’s condition has deteriorated rapidly, with his wife confirming the seriousness of the illness. Danis took to X to send out a message to Askren, writing:

“I heard the news before it hit the media about Ben Askren. It’s a lot more serious than people think. No matter how bad our beef might’ve been, he’s a great coach and a family man. Praying he pulls through this.”

Check out Dillon Danis' X post below:

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Edited by Abhishek Nambiar