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{{Infobox martial artist
{{Infobox martial artist
| name = Chris Leben
| name = Chris Leben
| other_names = The Crippler,The Lobster,The Dumptruck
| other_names = The Crippler
| image = Chris-leben-mugshot-pictures.jpg
| image = Chris-leben-mugshot-pictures.jpg
| image_size = 200px
| image_size = 200px

Revision as of 23:48, 2 January 2011

Chris Leben
File:Chris-leben-mugshot-pictures.jpg
BornChristian Cyrus Leben[1]
(1980-07-21) July 21, 1980 (age 44)
Portland, Oregon, United States
Other namesThe Crippler
NationalityUnited States American
Height5 ft 11 in (1.80 m)
Weight186 lb (84 kg; 13.3 st)
DivisionMiddleweight
Reach70.5 in (179 cm)
StyleBoxing, Freestyle fighting, Brazilian Jiu-Jitsu
StanceSouthpaw
Fighting out ofOahu, Hawaii
TeamIcon MMA / Ultimate Fight School
Years active2002–present
Mixed martial arts record
Total32
Wins25
By knockout13
By submission6
By decision6
Losses7
By knockout2
By submission2
By decision3
Other information
Websitehttp://www.chrisleben.com
Mixed martial arts record from Sherdog

Christian Cyrus Leben[1] (born July 21, 1980) is an American mixed martial artist best known for his playful appearance on the first season of The Ultimate Fighter, a reality television series produced by the Ultimate Fighting Championship (UFC) and broadcast on Spike TV. He is also well known for his wild brawling style with heavy hands and iron jaw. Leben has fought for the UFC 16 times since 2005, a feat surpassed only by fellow TUF 1 alumnus Josh Koscheck, who has 17 bouts since that time.

Mixed martial arts

Early MMA career

Once, visiting his brother at work, Chris noticed an MMA gym located across the street, home to the world famous Team Quest. Trainer Robert Follis accepted Leben into the tribe, and soon the latter began elevating his skills to the next level by training with team members such as Randy Couture, Matt Lindland, Nate Quarry, and Ed "Short Fuse" Herman. After refining his talent, Leben began fighting as an amateur, achieving a record of 5-0, and capturing the FCFF and UFCF middleweight titles.

After his success in the amateur ranks, Leben turned pro. He won his first five fights, three victories of which arrived via knockout, in the process capturing the Gladiator Challenge, Sportfight, and WEC middleweight titles. Leben achieved wins against Benji Radach, Mike Swick, Jorge Rivera, Edwin Dewees and Patrick Cote, an otherwise perfect record blemished only by a decision loss to seasoned veteran Joe Doerkson.

The Ultimate Fighter

Leben was one of the most controversial and outspoken fighters on The Ultimate Fighter 1 due to his variously abrasive and melancholy personality. In the first episode, while intoxicated, he urinated on future teammate Jason Thacker's bed, and stole his pillow. One night when everyone in the household was drinking, Bobby Southworth called Leben a "fatherless bastard" on account of Leben's father being absent during his childhood, requiring Leben being physically restrained from accosting Southworth. After a heated confrontation precipitated by Josh Koscheck and Bobby Southworth spraying a sleeping Leben with a hose,[2] Leben broke a window with his fist.[3] After the confrontation, UFC president Dana White set up a match between Leben and Koscheck, which Leben lost by unanimous decision due to Koscheck's ability to score points by controlling Leben on the ground. Leben was visibly upset.

Later in the show, teammate Nate Quarry was eliminated from the competition due to an ankle injury and was able to choose a previously eliminated fighter to replace him. He chose Leben, who was later defeated by Kenny Florian due to doctor stoppage in the first semi-final match after Florian opened a cut above Leben's eye with an elbow strike. His losses on the taped show are not on his professional record, as the fights were classified by Nevada as exhibition bouts.

Ultimate Fighting Championship

On April 9, 2005, Leben fought Jason Thacker on the undercard of The Ultimate Fighter's live finale. Thacker was not amused when he watched the show and found out Leben had used his bed as a urinal. Speaking with Dana White, Thacker demanded a match against Leben at the finale. The match was set up, and Leben won 95 seconds into the first round after referee stoppage due to strikes. Afterward, Leben apologized to Thacker for urinating on his bed, saying he had since given up drinking because of that sort of incident.

After the show, Leben moved to Seattle, Washington to train with the mixed martial arts team AMC Pankration and Joel Jamieson. Prior to the show, he had trained with Gresham, Oregon-based Team Quest. He has competed in several UFC events since the show and is the only person to have fought in the first six Ultimate Fight Night events. Leben has a 11–5 record in the UFC, including a TKO win over fellow TUF alumni Jason Thacker, a split decision win over TUF finalist Patrick Côté, an armbar submission against Edwin Dewees, a first-round TKO over Jorge Rivera, and a unanimous decision over Luigi Fioravanti.

Leben was defeated by Anderson Silva at UFC Ultimate Fight Night 5 on June 28, 2006 by knockout 49 seconds into the first round. However he returned at UFC Fight Night 6 on August 17, 2006. He defeated Jorge Santiago by knockout 35 seconds into the second round.

Leben then lost at UFC 66 to Canadian fighter Jason MacDonald by modified guillotine choke with less than a minute remaining in the second round. Leben then lost to Canadian Kalib Starnes by unanimous decision at UFC 71 on May 26, 2007.

It was reported that Leben was offered a main event fight against Mike Swick at UFC Fight Night 11, but turned down the fight for unknown reasons; it was later revealed on the Ultimate Fighter Season 1 reunion show by UFC President Dana White's call to matchmaker Joe Silva that Leben's camp turned down the fight and that Leben himself had no prior knowledge of the fight offer.[4] Leben instead took on Terry Martin on the same UFC Fight Night 11 card. Even after being rocked with multiple punches by Martin, a half-dazed Leben defeated Martin by knockout at 3:56 of the third round. Later, at UFC 82, he knocked out Alessio Sakara, winning the "Knockout of the Night" award.

On April 30, 2008, Leben was arrested in Oregon by Clackamas County Sheriffs for a DUI stemming from an earlier date.[5] He was kept in jail and temporarily held without bond for allegedly violating his probation. Leben was then sentenced to 35 days in jail, causing his match against Michael Bisping at UFC 85 to be rescheduled for UFC 89.

His next fight was against Michael Bisping at UFC 89, which he lost by a unanimous decision after a full three rounds. Leben taunted Bisping throughout the last two rounds by dropping his arms and raising his chin.[6] The judges scored the fight 30–27 (twice) and 29–28 for Bisping.[7] Bisping used effective counter punching in the fight to keep the aggressive Leben at bay.[8]

After the fight with Bisping, Leben tested positive for Stanozolol and was suspended for nine months and fined a third of his fight purse.[9][10] He was eligible to return in July 2009.[11] Leben admitted he had used the substance several months prior to the fight, but stated he had assumed it would have been out of his system by then.

Leben then fought Jake Rosholt at UFC 102 in Portland, Oregon.[12] In the third round, he was rendered unconscious via an arm triangle choke, losing the fight by submission. Leben then faced Jay Silva on January 11, 2010 at UFC Fight Night 20, winning via unanimous decision.

Leben was expected to face Aaron Simpson at UFC 114, but the bout took place on June 19, 2010 at The Ultimate Fighter: Team Liddell vs. Team Ortiz Finale.[13] After a rough first round where Simpson slammed Leben numerous times, Leben eventually connected consecutive punches on a visibly exhausted Simpson in the second. In a bizarre finish, a wobbly Simpson ducked and ran away from Leben, collapsing face first at the other side of the octagon, prompting referee Josh Rosenthal to end the fight via TKO at 4:17 of the second round.

After Wanderlei Silva was forced out of his UFC 116 bout with Yoshihiro Akiyama due to broken ribs, Leben agreed to fill in for Silva in the bout against Akiyama only four days after defeating Simpson. Although he was outstruck and outwrestled for most of the first round, Leben managed to stay competitive and keep a fast paced fight with the rapidly tiring Akiyama in the second round. In the third and final round, Leben capitalized on Akiyama's extreme fatigue and sunk in a triangle choke, forcing Akiyama to submit at 4:40 in round 3.[14][15] After the fight, Leben called for a fight with Silva, saying "come on Wanderlei, I'll take you out, too!", though UFC president Dana White said in the post-fight press conference that a Leben-Silva affair isn't under consideration.

Leben faced Brian Stann on January 1, 2011 at UFC 125[16] He lost the fight via TKO in the first round and it was his first TKO loss due Punches.

On October 20, 2010, Leben was arrested in Honolulu for suspicion of driving under the influence after crashing his truck in to a wall off of Kapiolani Boulevard. He was released from custody after posting bail.[17]

Personal life

Since May 2007, Leben has moved to East Oahu, Hawaii to accept the main coaching job at Icon Fitness MMA Gym.[18] ICON Sport promoter T. Jay Thompson has commented, saying, "I am very excited to have Chris at our new facility. His energy and overall enthusiasm for the sport will add tremendously to our gym. I am very impressed with the family friendly 'outside of the cage' personality of Chris and what that will mean to our members."[19] In addition to training at ICON, Leben and fighter Steven "The Soul Samurai" Saito opened Ultimate Fight School gym in Oahu in January, located two blocks from the University of Hawaii campus.[20]

Championships and accomplishments

  • MMANews247.com
    • Comeback Fighter of the Year 2010[21]

Mixed martial arts record

Professional record breakdown
32 matches 25 wins 7 losses
By knockout 13 2
By submission 6 2
By decision 6 3
Result Record Opponent Method Event Date Round Time Location Notes
Loss 25-7 United States Brian Stann TKO (Strikes) UFC 125: Resolution January 1, 2011 1 3:37 United States Las Vegas, Nevada , United States
Win 25–6 Japan Yoshihiro Akiyama Submission (Triangle Choke) UFC 116: Lesnar vs. Carwin July 3, 2010 3 4:40 United States Las Vegas, Nevada, US Fight of the Night
Win 24–6 United States Aaron Simpson TKO (Punches) The Ultimate Fighter 11 Finale June 19, 2010 2 4:17 United States Las Vegas, Nevada, US Knockout of the Night
Win 23–6 Brazil Jay Silva Decision (Unanimous) UFC Fight Night: Maynard vs. Diaz January 11, 2010 3 5:00 United States Fairfax, Virginia, US
Loss 22–6 United States Jake Rosholt Technical Submission (Arm Triangle Choke) UFC 102: Couture vs. Nogueira August 29, 2009 3 1:30 United States Portland, Oregon, US
Loss 22–5 England Michael Bisping Decision (Unanimous) UFC 89: Bisping vs. Leben October 18, 2008 3 5:00 England Birmingham, England Leben tested positive for steroids.
Win 22–4 Italy Alessio Sakara KO (Punches) UFC 82: Pride Of A Champion March 1, 2008 1 3:16 United States Columbus, Ohio, US Knockout of the Night
Win 21–4 United States Terry Martin KO (Punch) UFC Fight Night 11: Thomas vs Florian September 19, 2007 3 3:56 United States Las Vegas, Nevada, US
Loss 20–4 Canada Kalib Starnes Decision (Unanimous) UFC 71: Liddell vs. Jackson May 26, 2007 3 5:00 United States Las Vegas, Nevada, US Fight of the Night
Loss 20–3 Canada Jason MacDonald Technical Submission (Modified Guillotine Choke) UFC 66: Liddell vs. Ortiz 2 December 30, 2006 2 4:03 United States Las Vegas, Nevada, US
Win 20–2 Brazil Jorge Santiago KO (Punch) UFC Fight Night 6 August 17, 2006 2 0:35 United States Las Vegas, Nevada, US
Loss 19–2 Brazil Anderson Silva KO (Knee) UFC Ultimate Fight Night 5 June 28, 2006 1 0:49 United States Las Vegas, Nevada, US
Win 19–1 United States Luigi Fioravanti Decision (Unanimous) UFC Ultimate Fight Night 4 April 6, 2006 3 5:00 United States Las Vegas, Nevada, US
Win 18–1 United States Jorge Rivera KO (Punches) UFC Ultimate Fight Night 3 January 16, 2006 1 1:44 United States Las Vegas, Nevada, US
Win 17–1 United States Edwin Dewees Submission (Armbar) UFC Ultimate Fight Night 2 October 3, 2005 1 3:26 United States Las Vegas, Nevada, US
Win 16–1 Canada Patrick Côté Decision (Split) UFC Ultimate Fight Night August 5, 2005 3 5:00 United States Las Vegas, Nevada, US
Win 15–1 Canada Jason Thacker KO (Punches) The Ultimate Fighter 1 Finale April 9, 2005 1 1:35 United States Las Vegas, Nevada, US
Win 14–1 United States Benji Radach TKO (Broken Jaw) SF 4: Fight For Freedom 6/26/2004 3 3:43 United States Gresham, Oregon, US
Loss 13–1 Canada Joe Doerksen Decision (Unanimous) Freestyle Fighting Championships 9 5/14/2004 3 5:00 United States Biloxi, Mississippi, US
Win 13–0 United States Justin Davis KO (Punch) SF 3: Dome 4/17/2004 1 1:54 United States Gresham, Oregon, US
Win 12–0 United States Boyd Ballard KO (Punches) UFCF - Night of Champions 1/31/2004 1 1:50 United States Lynnwood, Washington, US
Win 11–0 United States Mike Swick KO (Punch) WEC 9: Cold Blooded 1/16/2004 2 0:45 United States Lemoore, California, US Became First WEC Middleweight Champion
Win 10–0 United States James Fanshier Decision (Unanimous) Gladiator Challenge 20 11/13/2003 3 5:00 United States Colusa, California, US
Win 9–0 United States Brian Sleeman Submission (Rear Naked Choke) WEC 8: Halloween Fury 2 10/17/2003 1 3:15 United States Lemoore, California, US
Win 8–0 United States Boyd Ballard Submission (Armbar) UFCF - Night of Champions 10/11/2003 1 2:18 United States Lynnwood, Washington, US
Win 7–0 United States Landon Showalter Decision (Split) QP – Second Coming 8/23/2003 3 5:00 United States Gresham, Oregon, US
Win 6–0 United States Otto Olson KO (Punch) UFCF - Battle in Seattle 7/26/2003 1 2:01 United States Seattle, Washington, US
Win 5–0 United States Pat Healy Decision (Split) FCFF - Rumble at the Roseland 8 6/7/2003 3 5:00 United States Portland, Oregon, US
Win 4–0 United States John Hall TKO (Elbows and Punches) FCFF: Rumble at the Roseland 6 3/8/2003 2 5:00 United States Portland, Oregon, US
Win 3–0 United States Ben Birtcher TKO (Knees) FCFF: Rumble at the Roseland 5 12/14/2002 1 3:00 United States Portland, Oregon, US
Win 2–0 United States Bryce Hamilton Submission (Guillotine Choke) UFCF: Fall Brawl 11/9/2002 1 2:45 United States Everett, Washington, US
Win 1–0 United States Justin Terherst Submission (Armbar) FCFF: Rumble at the Roseland 4 8/10/2002 1 2:30 United States Oregon, US

Notes and references

  1. ^ a b "Christian Cyrus Leben". CAGETODAY.com. 2008-05. Retrieved 2010-10-21. {{cite web}}: Check date values in: |date= (help)
  2. ^ Leben, an Everett fighter, is top contender in booming sport
  3. ^ Leben gets second chance against Bisping at UFC 89
  4. ^ "Leben, Martin Set for UFN 11". Nokaut.com. 2007-07-20. Retrieved 2007-07-20.
  5. ^ "UFC Fighter Chris Leben Arrested for DUI". MMA Junkie.com. April 30, 2008. Retrieved 2008-05-01.
  6. ^ [1]
  7. ^ UFC 89 Play-by-Play
  8. ^ http://www.mmaweekly.com/absolutenm/templates/dailynews.asp?articleid=7386&zoneid=2
  9. ^ http://164mph.com/Ultimate_Fighting_Championship/news:crippling-blow-leben-tests-positive
  10. ^ Leben tests positive for steroids, suspended
  11. ^ Failed UFC 89 drug test nets Chris Leben nine-month suspension (updated)
  12. ^ Middleweights Chris Leben and Jake Rosholt to meet at UFC 102
  13. ^ "SIMPSON VS. LEBEN ON TUF 11 FINALE MAIN CARD". MMAWeekly.com. 2010-04-05.
  14. ^ http://www.sherdog.com/fighter/Chris-Leben-6258
  15. ^ "UFC 116 LIVE RESULTS AND PLAY-BY-PLAY". mmaweekly.com. 2010-07-03.
  16. ^ "Chris Leben vs. Brian Stann targeted for UFC 125 New Year's Day event". mmajunkie.com. 2010-09-22.
  17. ^ "Mixed martial arts fighter arrested on suspicion of DUI following crash". Hawaii News Now.com. October 20, 2010. Retrieved 2010-10-20.
  18. ^ http://www.fighting-mma.com/mma-matchups/2008/ufc-89-betting-michael-bisping-chris-leben.php
  19. ^ http://bleacherreport.com/articles/70129-a-new-crippler-the-transformation-of-chris-leben
  20. ^ http://www.uproarhawaii.com/?p=854#more-854
  21. ^ "MMA News 247 Awards 2010". MMANews247.com. 2011-1-2. {{cite web}}: Check date values in: |date= (help)

Template:The Ultimate Fighter 1

New championship 1st WEC Middleweight Champion
January 16, 2004 – January 2005 		Vacant
Title next held by
Joe Riggs

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