Latest update on former UFC fighter Ben Askren

The road to getting back to his feet remains an uphill battle for Ben Askren. His wife, Amy, updated fans with a post on Facebook.

Askren fell ill earlier this month and has been in the hospital since. He represented the United States at the 2008 Summer Olympics, was a two-time NCAA Division I champion at Missouri and competed for the UFC after winning gold in ONE FC.

"I haven't shared an update because Ben has been in limbo for a while and I was hoping to have him wake up and be the one to decide what to share," Amy posted on Tuesday. "Ben is still on a ventilator and ecmo to support him while he heals. There are good days and bad, but on the good, they have been able to wean his sedation enough for him to open his eyes and squeeze hands."

She noted that Askren's body still "can't handle coming off sedation" and that a lung transplant could be needed.

"I'm still praying for a miracle with his current lungs, but they are currently starting the evaluation process for lung transplant," she said. "I know transplants are such a blessing and I'm overwhelmed at the thought of him receiving a gift like that. No one would take better care of that give than Ben."

Askren was hospitalized with severe pneumonia and was not responding at the time. It developed into a staph infection for the former Bellator champion who made his last official appearance inside a cage in 2019 with the UFC vs. Demian Maia.