Former UFC fighter Ben Askren reveals why he turned to Christianity after double lung transplant

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Former UFC fighter Ben Askren says he turned to faith after waking up from a medically induced coma and undergoing a double lung transplant following a severe case of pneumonia. 

During an interview with FloWrestling published last week, the former Olympic wrestler spoke about his journey and the moment he woke up from a coma and decided to become a Christian. 

UFC fighter Ben Askren waits for the start of a middleweight mixed martial arts bout between David Branch and Jared Cannonier at UFC 230 in New York on Nov. 3, 2018. (AP Photo/Julio Cortez, File)

"There was multiple times where they thought I was dead. Like I was dead, that’s the other side," Askren said in the video. "I woke up and I just decided I was a Christian. So, that’s crazy." 

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Askren went on to explain that while he attended church with his wife, he never felt the call to faith. 

"I went with my wife to church for 15 years because that was part of the deal. I said, ‘Well, I’m not Christian, but I’ll support you.’ And it was really weird when I woke up, I’m like ‘I gotta do it.’ You know? So, that was kind of weird," he continued.

"[I have] so much gratitude for everyone who’s helped out. So many people have donated money, watched our kids, donated food, a lot of friends come and hangout with me – just so much gratitude for being around me."

Ben Askren stands in his corner prior to his welterweight bout against Demian Maia of Brazil during the UFC Fight Night event at Singapore Indoor Stadium on Oct. 26, 2019 in Singapore. (Jeff Bottari/Zuffa LLC via Getty Images)

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