Chris Leben has been a controversial figure from the minute he stepped into The Ultimate Fighter 1 house many years ago. He has continued to be a controversial figure even into his recent retirement.
In a recent post from mmaoddsbreaker.com, Leben spoke with fellow UFC vet Frank Trigg. He opened up about his drug-riddled past, which has diminished the great amount of money “The Crippler” made with the UFC.
It really is better now. The bottom line is, especially with all the illegal drugs, I was spending all the money I was making anyways. Six in one, half dozen in the other. I used to fight, the way I fought, I didn’t give a shit. ‘Fuck this, I could die tomorrow, let’s go out there and I’m gonna fucking kill this guy!’ That fire, I’d be lying if I said that fire was still in me these past couple fights. It hasn’t been. I hate to admit it, but shit’s going okay at home. My life’s alright. I’m a lot more of a mellow guy. Just getting older I guess. I don’t even know. I don’t know how to explain it.
This revelation should come as no surprise, as Leben has tested positive for illegal substances in post-fight drug tests.
In 2008, Leben tested positive for Stanozolol following a unanimous decision loss to Michael Bisping in the headliner of UFC 89. He was suspended for nine months, as well as fined one-third of his fight purse.
That was not the last of Leben’s troubles.
In 2011, Leben was suspended for one year in the aftermath of a stoppage loss to Mark Munoz at UFC 138. In that bout, he tested positive for oxymorphone and oxycodone.
Saying that he blew most of his money on drugs is astonishing to hear, though, as Leben was a well-paid fighter who threw down in the Octagon 22 times. In those 22 fights, Leben earned four Knockout of the Night and two Fight of the Night bonus checks that brought him home a little extra money.
Although that is an unfortunate thing to hear, at least Leben has said that now things are going better and that he’s mellowed out. From freaking out on TUF 1 to giving UFC fans their money’s worth in the cage, the eccentric fighter has had his ups and downs.
Here’s to hoping Leben continues to stay clean and away from drugs.
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