Dana White recently commented on a former fighter’s positive update about his current status.
Fans and fellow fighters were shocked to learn about Ben Askren’s severe health condition which required a double lung transplant to save his life.
With the 40-year-old being a former member of the UFC roster, Dana White previously sent his support to Askren and his family by sharing a link that people could use to donate money.
For several weeks, his wife and close friends were providing updates about his current condition and what the next steps appeared to be.
After going through the transplant, Askren was able to speak about it for the first time in an emotional video that was posted to his Instagram page.
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Dana White gives his reaction to Ben Askren’s emotional first video following health issues
Similarly to all of Ben Askren’s supporters, Dana White was stunned after hearing the former UFC fighter talk about his current status and what he has been through in the past few weeks.
The former ONE Championship and Bellator star noted that he had no recollection of the entire process and shockingly stated that he died four times before receiving the double lung transplant.
In a recent interview on the Full Send Podcast, White was asked whether he had seen the video of Askren finally being awake and able to publicly speak for the first time since being hospitalized.
The UFC CEO gave his reaction to the video and highlighted how the former UFC fighter’s physical condition before suffering this health scare is what has likely seen him come through the other side.
“I did, I saw that popping up on my feed. Yeah, he doesn’t even look the same, it’s f—— such a trip. You know the kind of shape you’ve got to be in to go through what that f—— guy just went through? It’s unbelievable.
“I don’t know all the details. I know he had like, what is it? That s— you get on your skin… Staph. Yeah I think it started with staph and from staph, it ended up f—— up his lungs somehow, from what I understand.”
White also stated that he reached out to Askren’s family to support them during this process, though he didn’t clarify what the outcome of this was.
“I reached out to his wife a few times during the… But you know, she I’m sure was an absolute f—— wreck but it’s good to see him wake up.”
Dana White disputed Jake Paul’s previous accusations about supporting Ben Askren
Ben Askren’s former opponent Jake Paul has been one of the most public supporters of Ben Askren during this difficult time.
The boxing star has spoken about wanting to help out Askren and his family on several occasions.
Following his fight with Julio Cesar Chavez Jr, Paul claimed that the likes of Dana White weren’t doing enough to help support the former UFC fighter.
“It just sucks and it sucks that no one is doing anything. I was obviously super busy this week so we’re figuring out the donation now, but none of these people like Dana [White] or any of these people are stepping in so I feel like I have to do something and that’s really all it is.”
Regardless of Paul’s comments about other people not doing enough to help support Askren, the most important thing is that his double lung transplant was funded and he’s now awake.