Ben Askren needs lung transplant as ex-UFC star put on ventilator

Ben Askren's wife Amy has provided an update on her husband's condition, revealing that he is now awaiting a lung transplant.

Earlier this month, the 40-year-old was rushed to hospital after contracting pneumonia as a result of a staph infection. It was recently reported that the American was unresponsive - and rumours began circulating online that he had died. However, those rumours were quickly shut down.

Askren's long-time friend Daniel Cormier claimed the former two-promotion champion was back home. That said, Askren's wife provided an update last week stating that her partner may need to undergo a lung transplant. Now, his wife has released yet another update and has confirmed that her husband is on the transplant list.

“As of late last night, Ben is officially on the transplant list,” she wrote on Facebook. “Please pray he can get stronger and stay stable without complications while he waits, and that they find an amazing match for him and he accepts it smoothly. Also please pray for whoever that donor may be, and his family. It’s going to be a huge adjustment for Ben, but our family is so thankful that his other organs are ok and that there is a path forward.

READ MORE: Khabib Nurmagomedov sends 'not friends' message to Jon Jones after retirement

READ MORE: Jon Jones makes shock admission about UFC future amid Tom Aspinall fight delay

“While he is having more periods of awareness, he’s not able to look at his phone yet and respond to messages. I am hoping he can get there in the next week or two! Also hoping we will get to a place soon where he can talk while on a trach. Yesterday he kept mouthing something for a while and we finally figured out he was saying coffee! (He can’t have it yet lol) What a huge relief to see him asking for something so normal.

"I’m so thankful his mind is healthy and I can’t wait to have him back. We are also so thankful for the amazing community we have-from close friends, friends we haven’t talked to in 20 plus years, to strangers who have reached out to share their similar stories or pray. Thank you.”

Both Amy and Ben married in 2010 and the pair have three children together with two daughters, Alex and Andy, and a son called Ozzi. Askren's update on her husband's condition comes just days after revealing the former UFC star was still on a ventilator. In an emotional post uploaded to social media, she wrote: "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. I've had some media people contact me that they are going to share an update and I would rather it come from me.

"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. His body can't handle coming off sedation too much yet. I'm still praying for a miracle with his current lungs, but they are currently starting the evaluation process for a lung transplant."

She added: "Please pray for his continued healing, and if transplant is the solution, that he can get on the list quickly and easily. 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 gift than Ben. Thank you for every message and all of the support. Despite this awful situation, I'm feeling so blessed by the community we're surrounded by. Give your loved ones a hug today and make sure you're prepared (for) situations like this. Ben is the healthiest guy I know and I never could have expected this."