Dana White has opened up about his involvement with Ben Askren’s medical treatment, despite a seeming discomfort to do so.
The UFC boss had his battles on the microphone and over social media with Askren over the years. But when the former Bellator and ONE Championship star’s health battles and subsequent financial burdens became public, White was one of the first to encourage donations and share his family’s HelpHopeLive.
And while much of the week’s social media discourse has surrounded unsubstantiated claims that Jake Paul paid $500,000 towards Askren’s double lung transplant, no numbers have been confirmed by the Askren family. Indeed, this includes the cost of the procedure or White’s involvement if any.
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Dana White opens up about donating to Ben Askren
Following UFC Nashville, UFC boss Dana White was asked to clarify if he had made any donation to Ben Askren’s family during his battle with pneumonia that led to him getting a double lung transplant. The Olympian’s insurance company denied his claim, so he had to fund the process out of pocket.
Double lung transplants are some of the most expensive procedures one can undergo in American medicine. According to a 2025 report by Milliman that was summarized on HelpHopeLive, costs without insurance can reach as high as over $2.3million.
Jake Paul had implied during his post-fight press conference following his fight with Julio Cesar Chavez Jr that White had not been involved. But aside from the names publicly available on HelpHopeLive, there is no way of knowing who has donated.
White appeared uncomfortable with the question, not wanting to use the situation to put himself over as saving the day for the former fighter. He is known for quietly helping those in need in the MMA community, and just last week quietly donated to the family of a late PFL staff member.
“I usually don’t talk about that stuff but yes I did,” White replied when asked point blank if he had financially supported Askren. “I did.
“I mean, we reached out to his wife as soon as we heard and told her ‘if there’s anything you need’. And yes, I did, yes. I just don’t like talking about that s—, that’s between us, but yes.”
Ben Askren’s latest video update showed major improvements
When Askren left his first video message earlier this week from his hospital bed, fans were upset to see just how much of a toll the last month-and-a-half had taken on him. He had lost around 50lb and looked to be seriously struggling as he thanked fans and got emotional over the tributes to him by friends.
However, he came out with a second, more defiant, video on Saturday which had fans in much higher spirits. He had shaved and cut his hair, and looked generally healthier as he declared he would be leaving hospital soon and that his reliance on tubes was going down.
“I’m going to plead guilty, I felt guilty for myself one time,” he said. “And that doesn’t do anyone any good. I thought ‘man, I never smoked one cigarette, never smoked any weed, never did anything. Why did my lungs get stolen from me? Why isn’t this happening to someone who smokes habitually?’
“Then I realized, it happened. So I can be bitter and angry, I could whine and cry, but that’s not going to help anybody. I am where I am now and I’m going to move forward the best that I can.
“So I hope you guys are enjoying the updates, I will not feel sorry for myself, I’m going to be out of here very soon so I hope you have a great day. Peace.”