Photo by Jeff Bottari/Zuffa LLC via Getty Images Ben Askren made his first public comments on Wednesday following double lung transplant surgery after he was initially hospitalized with severe pneumonia. The retired UFC fighter and former Bellator champion was awake at various moments during his hospitalization, but his wife Amy Askren said that he was largely unconscious as doctors tried to save his life. Ultimately, Askren received the double lung transplant he needed and now he’s awake and responsive again and addressing his health publicly for the first time