UFC middleweight fighter Chris Leben (20-6) said it was an opportunity he couldn’t pass up after being offered the fight against Yoshihiro Akiyama at UFC 116, after an injury forced Wanderlei Silva from the bout with the Japanese fighter.
“It’s a great fight and an opportunity I couldn’t pass up,” said Leben, who wasn’t exactly feeling that way when he initially got the call from the UFC on the Monday after his fight to replace the injured Wanderlei Silva against Akiyama.
“I woke up and I was all sore, and Joe (Silva) was already calling me,” said Leben. “He asked me to fight and I said no way. But the more I thought about it, I’m a fighter, that’s what I do. I’d be mad at myself if I passed this opportunity up. This is what I do. I’ll have plenty of opportunity to take a vacation after July 3rd.”
Leben and Akiyama meet in the co-main event of “UFC 116: Lesnar vs. Carwin” in Las Vegas, Nev. at the MGM Grand Garden Arena this Saturday.
HT: UFC.com