Jake Paul made an emotional call to Most Valuable Promotions co-founder Nakisa Bidarian when he learned the latest news about Ben Askren’s health.
The pair were once fierce rivals leading into their 2021 boxing fight, which Paul won by knockout in the first round. Their feud saw them get physical in face-offs and the social media star drag Askren’s family into an ugly back-and-forth.
Years later, Paul was informed through social media of Askren’s ailing health, which has seen him hospitalized and in need of a lung transplant. He is keen to contact the family, but feared it wouldn’t be appropriate too quickly.
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Jake Paul’s emotional reaction to Ben Askren health news
For the past few weeks, the combat sports world has been rallying around to support MMA legend Ben Askren in his battle with pneumonia as a result of a staph infection. The former Bellator and ONE FC champion was hospitalized in critical condition, but news has been better of late.
One of his great late-career rivals was Jake Paul, the controversial YouTuber-turned-boxer who fought Askren in a covid-era crossover super-fight. It sold over 500,000 pay-per-views, and featured performances from the likes of Justin Bieber amongst other fights and celebrity appearances.
“My prayers go out to him,” Paul told media including Bloody Elbow at the open workout for his fight with Julio Cesar Chavez Jr in California this weekend. “I feel sorry for his family, I can’t imagine what they’re going through.
“I just hope that he can recover because there’s so much more to life besides fighting and careers. I’m wishing him the best and I’m here if they need any support.”
Nakisa Bidarian, who put together the Paul-Askren fight and is a co-founder of Most Valuable Promotions, then explained how the Ohio native called him with the news. He noted that he wanted to contact the family, but chose against it in an effort to remain tasteful.
“He hit me up two weeks ago when the news broke,” Bidarian explained. “He asked me if I had heard and I said no. He said ‘I wanted to reach out to his family but I think it’s inappropriate. But if they need anything, I’m there for them,’ and that’s who this kid is.”
Ben Askren’s wife offers latest update on former UFC star’s health
In fortunate news for fight fans and the Askren family, the latest update from Amy Askren is positive, and he recently opened his eyes and showed responsiveness. He even attempted to speak, and there is hope he might be able to communicate within the coming weeks.
“As of late last night, Ben is officially on the transplant list,” she wrote in a lengthy post to social media. “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 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+ years, to strangers who have reached out to share their similar stories or pray. Thank you.”