Joe Rogan has admitted to feeling worried about Ben Askren as Askren prepares for an upcoming wrestling match following a double lung transplant. Rogan's comments reflect the serious health context surrounding Askren's return to athletic competition.
Joe Rogan has spoken publicly about his concern for Ben Askren as the former MMA world champion prepares to compete in a wrestling match following a double lung transplant.
Rogan's remarks highlight the extraordinary medical backdrop to Askren's latest return to athletic competition. That a fighter of Askren's caliber is stepping onto a mat again after undergoing such a major surgical procedure has prompted serious reflection from those close to the sport, including Rogan, who made clear the situation weighs on him.
Askren, 41, is one of the most decorated wrestlers ever to compete in MMA. The American, who trains out of Roufusport, compiled a professional record of 19 wins and 2 losses during his fighting career and built his reputation almost entirely on elite grappling. Standing five-foot-eleven with a 73-inch reach, he averaged 4.33 takedowns per 15 minutes over his career — a figure that placed him among the most relentless wrestlers in the sport. Known by the nickname Funky, Askren was dominant across multiple organizations before retiring from fighting.
Why it matters
- Askren is returning to athletic competition after a double lung transplant, one of the most serious surgical procedures a person can undergo
- Rogan's public expression of concern reflects wider anxiety in the combat sports community about the physical risks involved
- The situation raises broader questions about the line between competitive drive and medical prudence for retired fighters
