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Chris Leben

  • Full Name:
    Chris Leben
  • Record:
    22-7-0
  • Height:
    5\\\'11 (180cm)
  • Weight:
    185 lbs
  • DOB:
    July 21, 1980
  • Association:
    Team Quest
  • City:
    Portland
  • State:
    OR
  • Country:
    USA

Read all about Chris Leben's fights and knockouts on Fighters.com. Chris Leben's current record of 22-7-0 is a good measurement for experience, skills and overall performance. Come back for Chris Leben's next fight.

Top 5 Fighters Most Likely to Survive a Nuclear Apocalypse

You read that right, fans and friends. You thought it was a one-and-done with my “Top 5 Fighters Most Likely to Survive a Zombie Apocalypse” list? If only we were so lucky. Nay, the zombie apocalypse is not the only doomsday scenario we all must be prepared for. It’s not even the most likely. What is more likely is the thing we’ve been fearing since the 1950’s: eventually someone will get angry enough to hit that big red button, and then the nukes will reign from the sky and we’ll all be in “Fallout” and “Mad Max” territory. As before, there are several Mixed Martial Artists you should take great pains to meet up with in order to best survive your new wasteland. So here are my Top 5 Fighters Most Likely to Survive a Nuclear Apocalypse. ...

 Why Michael Bisping Will Probably Beat Yoshihiro Akiyama

I wouldn’t call myself a fan of the UFC’s UK posterboy Michael Bisping, but perhaps you could call me a bit of an advocate. More and more nowadays I see people completely disregarding his talent and forecasting doom on every single one of his fights. Here’s a more concrete example: back in the days and weeks leading up to UFC 110, people were practically screaming that Wanderlei Silva would murder Bisping, and some see the victory as a dominant performance by “The Axe Murderer” to this day. In truth, it was a very close fight that perhaps Wanderlei only won by closing out the rounds with go-for-broke flurries. Regardless of how you scored Silva/Bisping, once again I’m hearing how Bisping is going to be no match for his opponent, this time Yoshihiro Akiyama, when the two meet at the upcoming UFC 120 event. And that’s just not true. ...

Vitor Belfort returns in November--No Chael, and No Anderson
Vitor Belfort returns in November--No Chael, and No Anderson

Former UFC light heavyweight champion and current middleweight contender Vitor Belfort will be returning to action in November, but against who--who knows. The news, which was highlighted previously on Fighters.com , where according to Vitor himself on Twitter, “this year I am not going to fight for the title because the champion (UFC Middleweight kingpin Anderson Silva) is hurt but November we will be in action for sure that is what I can say.” ...

Vitor Belfort Returns in November, but It Won't Be Against Anderson Silva

It may not be for the championship, but fans of “The Phenom” can rest assured that Vitor Belfort will step back into the famed Octagon before 2010 is over and done with. The news came straight from Belfort himself, as he “tweeted” the following recently: “this year I am not going to fight for the title because the champion is hurt but November we will be in action for sure that is what I can say.” Belfort has been out of action since a “phenomenal” return to the Octagon when he TKO’d former UFC Middleweight Champion Rich Franklin in a catchweight bout at UFC 103 in September 2009. That performance was supposedly enough to warrant a title shot at divisional kingpin Anderson Silva, but the fight has so far been postponed on three separate occasions due to various injuries. And while it looks like the Silva/Belfort super-fight is still a matter of “so close and yet so far away”, Belfort’s return to the Octagon should silence all the nay-sayers and prove once and for all that “The Phenom” is once again a force to be reckoned with. ...

Great Moments in MMA History: "The Ultimate Fighter" Season 1

Welcome back fans and friends to another edition of “Great Moments in MMA History”. Today’s moment celebrates what many consider to be the launching point of the UFC into the mainstream, at a point where Mixed Martial Arts was still widely considered “human cockfighting”. The parent company of the UFC, Zuffa, was having trouble turning a profit after acquiring the UFC back in 2001, and all involved were aware of how increasingly sink-or-swim their predicament was becoming. Despite UFC President Dana White’s early hesitations, a plan was put forth, a TV show was pitched, and history was made. It was one of the most refreshing ideas to come to reality television in ages, and helped introduced the nation to the UFC and its varied casts of characters. It’s “The Ultimate Fighter” Season 1, and what a season it was. ...

When The Game Plan Goes Bye-Bye: The Top-10 Fighters Who Transform Into Brawlers

In some fights, with some fighters, there is a moment, a turning point, which fans love, Dana White loves, but coaches and trainers hate.  It is a point, where the game plan goes bye-bye.  The best laid ideas to use foot movement and the jab, to methodically work for take downs, to breakdown an opponent with leg kicks all goes out the window.  It is at this moment that some fighters revert to their primal instinct to let it all hang out, enter the pocket, swing away, and let the outcome hang on the power of their fists. Did plan A fail?  Has punishment and fatique stripped the fighter of three months of planning in the gym? Whatever the reason, it is in these moments that some of the most exciting fights take place.  For some fighters, this is when their most memorable work takes place.  The fight has become a messy brawl with blood flowing, fans screaming, and the decision in the balance. ...

UFC 116: What’s Next for the Sport’s Best?
UFC 116: What’s Next for the Sport’s Best?

With several amazing come-from-behind victories and several all-out wars of attrition, UFC 116 may go down as the best MMA event of 2010. 116 had a little bit of everything: amazing knockouts, slick submissions, thrilling victories, and humbling defeats. Moving forward, here’s what I think the future holds for some of UFC 116’s big winners. ...

The Ultimate Fighter 11 Finale: McGee Versus McCray

The eleventh season of "The Ultimate Fighter" (TUF) came to an end last night and finalized the line up for the finale with Court McGee (9-1) facing off against Kris McCray (5-0) in the finals. ...

Middleweight "Crippler" Chris Leben (18-7) has been suspended 30 days by the Oregon State Athletic Commission following getting choked unconscious by Jake Rosholt (6-1) at UFC 102 in Portland Saturday.

Leben, an original The Ultimate Fighter contestant, is required to have a CT scan of possible facial fractures before his suspension is lifted.

Heavyweight Chris Tuchscherer (15-2) has been suspended 45 days with a facial laceration after his first-round TKO loss to "Napao" Gabriel Gonzaga (11-4).
...

Leben Fails Drug Test After UFC 89

“Crippler” Chris Leben (18-6) tested positive for the banned substance Stanozolol after his unanimous decision loss to “The Count” Michael Bisping (17-1) at UFC 89 in Birmingham 18 October, according to the UFC Monday. Leben will be suspended for nine months and forfeit one-third of his fight purse. Stanozolol is an anabolic steroid derived from testosterone. UFC President Dana White said, “I am obviously disappointed with Chris, who has made great strides getting his life back on track.“ White added, “To his credit, he has taken responsibility for his actions and is accepting the punishment that has been handed down.  But as always, the UFC puts the safety of its athletes first and foremost, and we won’t tolerate anyone using performance enhancing drugs in our organization.” Leben’s fight versus Bisping was originally scheduled for UFC 85 in June in London, England, but had to be postponed while Leben served a prison sentence for an old DUI probation violation. Leben photo courtesy of Josh Hedges and Zuffa, LLC. ...

UFC 89: Bisping Beats-Up Leben in UD

British middleweight "Count" Michael Bisping (17-1) dominated "Crippler" Chris Leben(18-5) for a unanimous decision by judges' scores of 30-27 twice and 29-28 once at UFC 89 in Birmingham Saturday night. Bisping photo courtesy of Josh Hedges and Zuffa, LLC. "It was a tough fight, don't get me wrong; but, I felt comfortable all the way through it," Bisping said after the "W".  "At no point did I feel really in danger." ...

UFC 89: Bisping & Leben Make Weight

All UFC 89 fighters made their weight today at the NIA for Saturday's card in Birmingham. Leben photo courtesy of Josh Hedges and Zuffa, LLC."Count" Michael Bisping (16-1) 185 pounds v "Crippler" Chris Leben (18-4) 186 pounds "I'm glad you guys let me into your country," main event fighter Leben said at Thursday's press conference.  "I was a little worried on the plane." Leben was originally scheduled to fight Bisping in London 7 June, but opted to put to rest legal issues in Oregon stemming from an earlier DUI arrest to ensure a legal UK visa. But, the pressure is squarely on the shoulders of Brit Bisping, who told the press, "I am on a quest.  Losing this fight for me is not an option." Leben, wearing tight cornrows, chided his opponent, saying, "It seems to me that, when Michael Bisping fights, self-preservation is top on his list." A brawl would certainly benefit Leben.  Bisping's stand-up style is a bit more circle-and-poke, while Leben is happy to plant and throw bombs. ...

SpikeTV announced Monday that it will air all twelve episodes of the debut season of reality show The Ultimate Fighter, as well as the finale, on 13 September. Clips of a reunion special filmed recently at the UFC Training Center in Las Vegas will air throughout the marathon. TUF 1 cast members involved in the reunion are Fighters.com’s Light Heavyweight Champion and current UFC champion Forrest Griffin (16-4), Chris Leben (18-4), “American Psycho” Stephan Bonnar (11-4), Josh Koscheck (11-2), “Rock” Nathan Quarry (10-2), “KenFlo” Kenny Florian (10-3), “Nightmare” Diego Sanchez (19-2), Bobby Southworth (9-5), and “Quick” Mike Swick (12-2). The reunion special will be hosted by Joe Rogan, and UFC President Dana White will also be on hand to discuss the impact the show has had on the UFC and on the sport of mixed martial arts. ...

The Count and The Crippler at UFC 89

A bout between “The Count” Michael Bisping (16-1) and “The Crippler” Chris Leben (18-4) will take place 18 October in Birmingham, according to UK UFC President Marshall Zelaznik. Zelaznik made the announcement Thursday on the Setanta News Ultimate Talk Show, a weekly UFC news show airing in the U.K. Bisping and Leben were previously scheduled to fight at UFC 85 in London 7 June, but the match was scrapped when Leben had to serve time for a parole violation. The Count faced Canadian “Dooms Day” Jason Day (17-6) instead, punching him out to a TKO in the first round. It was his second consecutive win since dropping to the middleweight division. The Crippler is also riding a two-fight win streak, knocking out Terry Martin (17-4) in the third round in September and finishing “Legionarius” Alessio Sakara (12-7; 1 NC) at UFC 82 in March with a first-round TKO. ...

Leben Very Unlikely in London

UFC middleweight "Crippler" Chris Leben (18-4) was sentenced to 35 days in a Clackamas County, Oregon jail Thursday for violating his probation. Leben is scheduled to fight "The Count" Michael Bisping (15-1) in London 7 June.  The fight remained on the card at the UFC's official website Friday morning. Leben was credited for eight days served, which means he will be released just days before UFC 85. Since Leben will be unable to appropriately train, his fight with Bisping is likely to be scratched from the UFC 85 card. ...

Fight Card With Adrenaline

Thursday Adrenaline MMA, formed of the American executives from the now defunct M-1 Global promotion, issued it's official fight card for the promotion's Chicago premier 14 June. As reported by Fighters.com, the main event matches grappler "The Snowman" Jeff Monson (24-7) versus wrestler Michael Russow (9-1) in a mat struggle. "The Snowman" will fight Russow just two weeks after taking on Fighters.com's third-ranked heavyweight "Babyface Assasin" Josh Barnett (21-5) at Sengoku II in Tokyo. UFC fighter turned boxer Terry Martin (16-4) will fight Japanese middleweight Daiju Takase (7-11-1) before his hometown crowd. Martin comes off UFC losses to "Crippler" Chris Leben (18-4) and "Beastman" Marvin Eastman (15-7-1), but won his boxing debut 12 April with a knockout of Ricardo Upchurch (0-2 in boxing). Lightweight jiu-jitsu player Alberto Crane (8-2), who lost both of his UFC fights, will bounce back matched against King of the Cage vet Clay French (15-2). IFL lightweight standout "Bartimus" Bart Palaszewski (28-11), who's taken three tough losses consecutively, will rebound in his hometown versus Jeffrey Cox (9-5), who lost his UFC debut to "Pitbull" Manvel Gamburyan (8-2) last month in Denver. Also on the card to be held at the Sears Centre: "The Freak" Tony Fryklund (14-9) v Brian Gassaway (28-17-2) Taiwan Howard (4-1) v Rory Markham (13-3) James Giboo (11-2) v Mark Miller (8-3) "Herc" Antoine Hayes (6-5) v "Meat Truck" Kerry Schall (21-9) Rob Kimmons (20-3) v Hector Urbina (11-4) Aaron Rosa (10-2) v "Killing Fields" Ron Fields (22-25-1) Dom O'Grady (4-0) v Mike Stumpf (9-1) Joe Jordan (39-12-2) v Ryan Williams (5-2) Christian Reynosa (6-2) v John Hosman (7-3-1) ...

Knucklehead Leben Popped for Dooie

UFC middleweight "Crippler" Chris Leben (18-4) got popped for driving under the influence of alcohol in Oregon Wednesday night and is currently in the slammer for violating his probation, according to the Clackamas County Sheriff's Office. Leben is on the UFC 85 roster to fight "The Count" Michael Bisping (15-1) in London 7 June. Not Leben's finest moment; but, big deal, I say.  Big deal you say? We're not U.K. Immigration. Leben's arrest is likely to lead to visa complications with the Brits and may knock him out of his showdown with "The Count". Since losing by unanimous decision to Kalib Starnes (8-3-1) last year, Leben has relocated to Hawaii and looked in the best shape of his career while knocking out Terry Martin (16-4) and "Legionarius" Alessio Sakara (12-7). Bisping is Leben's biggest opportunity since getting obliterated in 49 seconds in Fighters.com's first-ranked middleweight "Spider" Anderson Silva's (21-4) UFC debut. ...

London UFC Card Getting Better

Friday the UFC announced two additional fights at UFC 85 in London. Fresh from a first-round TKO of "Chainsaw" Charles McCarthy (10-5) in Montréal, "The Count" Michael Bisping (15-1) will fight "Crippler" Chris Leben (18-4). Leben TKO'd "Legionarius" Alessio Sakara (12-7) in March. Also, "Sugar" Rashad Evans (11-0-1) has been added back to the card after his original opponent, "Iceman" Chuck Liddell (21-5), was pulled with an injury. He'll face "The Sandman" James Irvin (14-4), who comes off a UFC record eight-second KO of Houston Alexander (8-3) in Denver earlier this month. ...

Silva Bests Hendo, Best at 185-Pounds

On a night in Columbus when the original UFC Heavyweight Champion and tactician behind the ground'n'pound "The Hammer" Mark Coleman became a legend joining the UFC Hall of Fame, UFC Middleweight Champion "Spider" Anderson Silva knocked on that same hallowed door. The kickboxer from Curitiba vanquished former PRIDE Middleweight and Light Heavyweight Champion "Hollywood" Dan Henderson in a rear naked choke at 4:52 of the second round. The first round illustrated why Henderson, 22-7, was pegged as Silva's last great challenge at 185-pounds. The wrestler from California nixed the champion's world class stand-up with lateral movement that prevented Silva from setting and delivering his laser-like strikes. Henderson grabbed hold of the "Spider" and dumped him to the mat in an awkward half guard that allowed "Hollywood" to smother Silva while peppering him with hammer fists. The frustrated champion endured to the second frame. In a sloppy Thai clinch, Silva slammed a knee to Henderson's chiseled chin, causing the the top contender to crumble. Silva pounced!  A barrage of strikes convinced Henderson to give up his back, the fatal flaw leading to a rear naked choke submission with just eight seconds to spare in the round. While UFC broadcasters Mike Goldberg and Joe Rogan wondered allowed who could challenge the champion, Silva seemed to indicate a third tussle with former UFC Middleweight Champion "Ace" Rich Franklin was due. In the broadcasted card's only heavyweight rumble, "The Texas Crazy Horse" Heath Herring tumbled into a split decision "W" over Cheick Kongo of France. The Parisian kickboxer insisted on wrestling, to the surprise of everyone including Herring.  Kongo dumped the Texan by force of will, but never capitalized on his advantageous ground positions as Herring consistently swept and reversed into safer territory. In the end, Herring's pitter-patter of pounding and Kongo's cluelessness on the mat served Herring the "W" and a possible rematch with current interim UFC belt holder Antonio Rodrigo Nogueira, whom Herring came within a hair of beating last year. In untelevised heavyweight action, former UFC titlist "The Pitbull" Andrei Arlovski wrapped-up his current UFC contract and possibly his Octagon career with second round TKO of Jake O'Brien. Arlovski has openly entertained the idea of quitting the UFC for greener opportunities. Another pair of middleweights made the PPV broadcast when former UFC Middleweight Champion Evan Tanner was knocked silly...er with a knee from the Thai clinch by Yushin Okami. The fight was Tanner's first since April 2006 and the vet seemed to gas late into the first round before eating the death blow at 3:00 of the second. 18-4 Chris Leben TKO'd 185-pound newbie "Legionarius" Alessio Sakara of Italy at 3:16 of round one. "The Crippler" Leben knocked Sakara to his back with a left hook behind the ear, then pounced on the Roman with six unanswered punches before referee Herb Dean waved the affair closed. Welterweights Josh Koscheck and Dustin Hazelett lit each other up for a round before a Koscheck kick found the button behind Hazelett's ear a minute into round two.  Koschek pummeled the fallen fighter until the referee called it a TKO for Koscheck. The PPV opened with the longest three rounds of my life between welterweight contender Jon Fitch and UFC-debuting Chris Wilson of Team Quest. Wilson spent most of his Octagon initiation on his bicycle while Fitch tried to chase him down.  The judges awarded Fitch a unanimous decision for aggression and superior wrestling positioning. The rest of the untelevised portion of the card included a unanimous decision  "W" for 12-3 welterweight Luigi Fioravanti over Luke Cummo, who falls to 6-5. "Nightmare" Diego Sanchez was tossed a bit of red meat in Sweden's David Bielkheden after dropping two consecutive fights.  Sanchez devoured Bielkheden in a first round strikes submission. Lightweight Jorge Gurgel took a unanimous decision over John Halverson to improve to 12-3, 3-2 in the Octagon.  UFC 82 sold out Nationwide Arena in Columbus, Ohio. ...