Ben Askren leaves fans stunned with new video of his recovery after life-or-death double lung transplant at 41

Former UFC fighter and Bellator Welterweight champion Ben Askren was seen standing up in a walker and looking in much better shape after his double-lung transplant due to severe pneumonia.

Askren was seen in a video playing frisbee golf with fellow former UFC fighter Daniel Cormier in his backyard.

Askren was shirtless and using a walker to keep himself up, but managed to toss his frisbee far while Cormier was seen helplessly trying to match his throw.

The former fighter also filmed a video of himself sitting in a chair outside while discussing the UFC's events over the weekend.

Fans of Askren celebrated his recovery so far, with many noting how much better he looks and sounds compared to a few months before.

'It's nice to see you up and moving around,' read one comment on X, formerly Twitter.

Another wrote, 'I've never rooted for an athlete harder. You are an inspiration Ben'. 

'You look and sound better already!,' wrote one fan on Instagram. Another comment read, 'Looks like you are getting some sun! You sound awesome, looking great, keep going forward. All the prayers!'

It's been a rough summer for the 41-year-old, who said he 'flatlined' four times and lost 50 pounds due to his battle with the illness - which required an intense procedure. 

Askren was able to return home on July 22, but later shared with fans that he was struggling to lift a five-pound weight due to the amount of strength he had lost.

He also shared a video of him using a stationary bike at home on Sunday in an encouraging update.

At the end of July, Askren shared a sobering development with fans from a hospital bed.

'Well, as you guys can probably tell, I'm not home anymore, unfortunately' he began a video. 'I had my first check up this morning - they didn't like the way the last chest tube looked, thought it was infected.'

'Well, as you guys can probably tell, I'm not home anymore, unfortunately' he began a video. 'I had my first check up this morning - they didn't like the way the last chest tube looked, thought it was infected.'

Askren added that he had been put on antibiotics and taken for X-rays. 

'Hopefully we get this solved, fast... it wasn't always gonna be smooth, it wasn't always gonna be easy, it wasn't always gonna be all the way up,' he said.

'So hopefully this is a small hiccup and then I'm back home, getting stronger again.'

Askren, who previously revealed he 'died four times' before his double lung transplant, said last week that it was 'awesome' to be back at home with his family amid his health struggles.

As he spoke about the strength he had lost, Askren struggled to speak at certain points of video and had to catch his breath.

The former lightweight fighter told fans he was 'feeling strong' before his recent ordeal, as he was curling 45 pounds and doing hill sprints.

Last month, Askren's wife, Amy, shared that Askren had undergone the life-saving double lung transplant.

'We are forever thankful to the donor and his family,' she announced. 'This is the beginning of a new lifestyle for Ben, but every new day he has is a gift. 

'It still doesn't feel real that he was walking around completely healthy just 5 weeks ago. So much can change so quickly.

Askren first made a name for himself in the college ranks, as he became a two-time D1 champion with the University of Missouri.

He also participated in the 2008 Olympics and put together an impressive decade-long undefeated streak, winning world titles in Bellator and ONE before making the jump to UFC in 2019.

He defeated Robbie Lawler in his UFC debut but then suffered losses to Jorge Masvidal and Demian Maia before announcing his retirement from MMA.

He briefly returned to fighting briefly in 2021 when he boxed against Jake Paul, losing to the social media star via TKO. 

Askren married his wife in 2010 and they share three children, two daughters and a son.