Ben Askren latest as he fights for his life in hospital and ex-UFC rival reacts | UFC | Sport
Former UFC star Darren Till has put his notorious animosity with former rival Ben Askren to one side as the American fights a life-threatening battle in hospital following a health emergency. Askren found himself in a dire situation after being admitted to hospital over the weekend due to a ‘severe’ medical crisis. He is in a critical condition after a bout of staph infection which has subsequently led to contracting pneumonia.
The ex-MMA world champion and Team USA Olympian’s plight was revealed by his spouse Amy in a heartfelt Facebook post: “Feeling so incredibly thankful for our friends and community. It’s times like this that remind you how truly blessed you are. I feel God moving through the love and support we have received. I’m sorry if I haven’t had the chance to respond to you, but know I’ve seen your messages, and each one has meant so much to me. Please keep praying for Ben.
“You may have heard that my husband Ben is going through something. He developed severe pneumonia which came on very suddenly. He’s currently in the hospital and unable to respond to anything at this time. We welcome all prayers for healing and for peace.
“We are trying to maintain normality for our kids amidst this chaos and support them with careful consideration; thus, we kindly ask you to avoid discussing the matter with them for the time being.”
Despite their long-standing feud, Darren Till has wished Askren well. Their rivalry, which never saw the two actually clash in the Octagon, included a heated exchange in 2019 when Till labelled Askren a “w*****” on social media and criticised him for belittling other fighters while flaunting his own intelligence.
However, with Askren’s health in jeopardy, Till has shown his support, expressing concern for Askren and his family in a heartfelt message. “Heard Ben Askren is in some kind of condition that’s quite heavy,” Till shared.
“Hope he is ok and his family. As fighters we all have complete crazy beef and yes most of the time it’s real and blah blah. But at the end of the day we all have families and we all started doing this to be champions, fighters and to make money.”
Till, who left UFC in 2023 to explore new opportunities, was slated to face Tommy Fury in January, but the bout fell through after Till threatened to employ “MMA tactics” should he find himself on the back foot.
The 32-year-old Liverpudlian’s gesture towards Askren underscores the underlying respect and camaraderie that exists within the fighting community, despite the bravado and trash-talking that often dominates the headlines.
“So besides all the talking s*** etc, I always hope every one of us is healthy and wealthy. Hope he pulls through,” Till concluded, wishing Askren a speedy recovery.
