Ben Askren, a former mixed martial arts competitor who fought in the Olympics and UFC, has been hospitalized with severe pneumonia, his wife disclosed in a Facebook post over the weekend. Amy Askren shared details about her husband’s condition, emphasizing the sudden onset of the illness and his current in-hospital status, while requesting prayers and support for their family. Askren, 40, had a notable career including NCAA championships in the 170-pound division in 2006 and 2007, representing Team USA in the 2008 Olympics. He won gold medals in the 2005 Pan American Championships and the 2009 World Championships before transitioning to MMA, debuting in Bellator in 2010 and later competing in ONE Championship and the UFC. His notable bouts include defeating Robbie Lawler via submission at UFC 235 and facing Jorge Masvidal in a high-profile match. In 2021, he also engaged in a boxing match with Jake Paul, showcasing his versatility across combat sports. Recently, Askren signed with Real American Freestyle, the Hulk Hogan venture aimed at popularizing professional freestyle wrestling, indicating his ongoing pursuit of sports prominence despite his current health challenges.