Tag: Chris Leben

Chris Leben Provides Health Update From Hospital: ‘So Grateful’ To Be Alive

Chris LebenChris Leben has provided an update to his fans following the former UFC veteran’s battle against COVID-19. ‘The Crippler’ who is from the original cast of The Ultimate Fighter posted an update video to his Instagram account to keep the fans aware of his situation. Despite the tough time he faced, things appear to be […]

Chris Leben

Chris Leben has provided an update to his fans following the former UFC veteran’s battle against COVID-19.

‘The Crippler’ who is from the original cast of The Ultimate Fighter posted an update video to his Instagram account to keep the fans aware of his situation. Despite the tough time he faced, things appear to be improving.

Chris Leben Provides Video Update

You can watch the video here:

“What took the most damage, for sure, is my lungs,” Leben said.

“They did say 100 percent of my lungs are damaged, but they also said 100 percent recovery is possible, and I think that’s what’s going to happen. It’s going to take some time, start out slow, but I’m still alive, man. I’m still here. And for that, I’m so grateful. The fact that I get to fight my way back to 100 percent health, that I have that opportunity, is such a blessing. When you’re where I was, and you’re where I’m at now, I’ll tell you what, you count everything as a blessing.”

Chris Leben competed 34 times in mixed martial arts in a career that spanned over 11 years. In that time Leben faced the who’s who of the UFC having matched up against the likes of Anderson Silva, Michael Bisping and Wanderlei Silva.

However, that wasn’t the end of Leben who would go onto to compete until February 2021 in BKFC Knucklemania where he would finish his career off following a first-round knockout win over Quentin Henry.

Despite making progress and Chris Leben feeling optimistic he is still aware that he is not completely in the clear.

“I wouldn’t wish it on anybody,” Leben said. “But I learned a lot from this experience, and I’ll be back 100 percent. It might take a year, but at least I’m alive, so what’s a year? If I was dead, I wouldn’t have the opportunity.” (transcribed by MMAFighting.com)

What is your favourite Chris Leben moment?

Chris Leben Released From The Hospital Following COVID-19 Scare

Former UFC fighter and cast member of The Ultimate Fighter 1 Chris “The Crippler” Leben has been released from the hospital following a trying battle with COVID-19. Leben’s MMA journey began in 2002 across many platforms before landing with the UFC. He fought in the middleweight class and holds a professional record of 22 wins…

Continue Reading Chris Leben Released From The Hospital Following COVID-19 Scare at MMA News.

Former UFC fighter and cast member of The Ultimate Fighter 1 Chris “The Crippler” Leben has been released from the hospital following a trying battle with COVID-19.

Leben’s MMA journey began in 2002 across many platforms before landing with the UFC. He fought in the middleweight class and holds a professional record of 22 wins and 12 losses.

In 2004, Leben appeared on TUF season 1. He suffered two losses on the promotion but came back with a round 1 TKO against his opponent, Jason Thacker, on the season’s finale.

Leben now coaches mixed martial arts at The Training Center in San Diego, CA. He is a father and husband.

Notably, Chris has been sober for years after past struggles with drugs and alcoholism and a couple of run-ins with the law.

On February 6, Leben posted an Instagram photo of his lower half in hospital garb.

“So I’ve been in the hospital since Tuesday. I went in after a cough and shortness of breath I developed after Covid. I’m not one to bellyache to the world. But if you haven’t seen me at the gym or around that is why. And if you can shoot some positive vibes my way other than that I don’t really wanna say much until we know exactly what’s going on,” Leben captioned on his Instagram post.

Two weeks ago, Leben provided the following update on his health status (h/t BJPenn)

“I feel pretty good. I’m off all the other things, I got no tubes in my body at all right now, only thing is this oxygen. I think that’s what took the most damage, for sure, is my lungs. They did say 100% of my lungs are damaged, but they also said 100% recovery is possible. I think that’s what’s gonna happen. It’s gonna take some time, start out slow, but I’m still alive, man. I’m still here. For that, I’m so grateful. The fact that I get to fight my way back to 100% health, to have that opportunity, is such a blessing.”

“I learned a lot. It’s not that I’m scared to die, it’s that I’m in love with life. I have so much to live for – a beautiful child, a thriving new business, I have family and I have the greatest, closest friends in the world that all came together and showed me how much they cared about me during this trying time.”

Update: Chris Leben Released From The Hospital

Last Friday, Leben posted the following happy ending to this story, where he is shown doting on his child after being released from the hospital.

“Daddy’s home. Thank you ?@JDS1974SD? ?? I called on you from the spirit world and you delivered. To ALL my friends ?@danawhite? ?@dr_octagon? and all the fans who supported me. I AM GRATEFUL ?? Time to live, time to fight, time to love. TIME FOR 272!! Lfg!”

“The Crippler” last performed in the Octagon in 2013. Since his final loss in the UFC to Uriah Hall, he fought with the BKFC. After just three bouts, Leben announced his retirement from professional fighting to pursue a different path in MMA.

Continue Reading Chris Leben Released From The Hospital Following COVID-19 Scare at MMA News.

Chris Leben Hospitalized After Serious Bout With COVID-19

Chris LebenMMA veteran and The Ultimate Fighter Season 1 alumni Chris Leben has been in the hospital for days after testing positive for COVID-19. Leben posted on Instagram over the weekend while at a San Diego hospital. The image shows Leben in a hospital gown and hooked up to a monitor, all stemming from a serious […]

Chris Leben

MMA veteran and The Ultimate Fighter Season 1 alumni Chris Leben has been in the hospital for days after testing positive for COVID-19.

Leben posted on Instagram over the weekend while at a San Diego hospital. The image shows Leben in a hospital gown and hooked up to a monitor, all stemming from a serious bout with COVID-19.

Leben addressed his fans on social media.

“So I’ve been in the hospital since Tuesday,” Leben said. “I went in after a cough and shortness of breath I developed after Covid. I’m not one to bellyache to the world. But if you haven’t seen me at the gym or around that is why. And if you can shoot some positive vibes my way other than that I don’t really wanna say much until we know exactly what’s going on.”

Leben hasn’t fought in MMA since a loss to Uriah Hall in 2013. He has since competed in several bare-knuckle boxing matches, including most recently in a win against Quentin Henry in BKFC.

It hasn’t been revealed whether or not Leben opted to get one of the COVID-19 vaccines, and to what extent is the severity of his hospital stay.

Chris Leben Began His Claim To Fame On The Ultimate Fighter

Leben is considered as one of the true OGs of the UFC and helped TUF 1 become a huge television success. He competed alongside fellow UFC veterans Kenny Florian, Diego Sanchez, Forrest Griffin, and Stephen Bonnar, among others.

After five straight wins to begin his UFC tenure, he would eventually suffer a first-round knockout against Anderson Silva in 2006. While he would trade wins and losses after the Silva fight, he was never able to replicate his early success in the cage.

Many MMA fighters around the sport reached out in support of Leben after getting word of his illness. BJ Penn, Jeremy Stephens, and even referee Herb Dean were among those who sent well wishes on Instagram.

What is your reaction to Chris Leben getting COVID-19?

Chris Leben Staying Retired, ‘Unless I’m Fighting Jake Paul Or Something’

Chris LebenChris Leben is happy in his retirement, but that doesn’t mean he couldn’t be coaxed out of it if the money was right. the 40-year-old had actually intended to hang up the gloves after his five-round war against Dakota Cochrane at BKFC. However, when the coronavirus pandemic hit, it put a pause on his plans […]

Chris Leben

Chris Leben is happy in his retirement, but that doesn’t mean he couldn’t be coaxed out of it if the money was right.

the 40-year-old had actually intended to hang up the gloves after his five-round war against Dakota Cochrane at BKFC. However, when the coronavirus pandemic hit, it put a pause on his plans to open up a new gym and gave BKFC matchmaker Nate Shook an idea.

“The Dakota Cochrane fight, there was a lot of things in the build up to that fight that didn’t work out well for me. The weight cut and everything else,” Leben explained when speaking to MMA Fighting. “Nonetheless, the fight was a five-round war. Obviously, the judges had it going the other way but for me, I was actually happy that I went out on a bloodbath fight. I fought all five rounds. I was OK, that’s it, I’m done.

“It was really (BKFC matchmaker) Nate Shook was in my ear. He’s like ‘I know all the stuff before the fight that you were going through, you should go out on a win.’”

Despite finishing his MMA career at 22-12 and holding a 3-1 record in bare-knuckle boxing, something about finishing his career off a loss didn’t sit right with Leben.

“I love Nate but being a little bit of a promoter though. I was like yeah, I should go out on a win,” Leben said. “It would be way better to retire with a ‘W’ than an ‘L.’

“I start thinking about it, I’m like I’m healthy with Covid and everything else going on, there’s not a lot I can do in the way of reffing and focusing on opening my gym out here so I’m kind of a landing pattern, more or less, until this vaccination gets out further. So let’s do it. You’re right. I went for it.”

The decision ended up paying dividends, as Leben stopped Quentin Henry in just 67-seconds. Afterwards, he was able to make good on his promise and retire from combat sports for good. He plans to spend the next chapter of his life being a coach and mentor to young up-and-coming fighters, much the same way Robert Follis was to him. But if someone were to offer him a substantial paycheck, perhaps against a certain internet-celebrity-turned-boxer, he wouldn’t say no.

“Unless I’m fighting Jake Paul or something crazy like that, that’s it. I’m done,” Leben said. “I really don’t have a desire, I don’t have anything to prove. If I did, it’s because somebody wants to pay me a zillion dollars.”

Paul has called out a number of notable MMA stars, and is currently training for a boxing match against Ben Askren. a number of fans have reached out to Leben over social media and suggested he should be the one to silence the YouTube star. While Leben may not like the way Paul has done things, he doesn’t fault him for taking advantage of his opportunities.

“Honestly, a lot of people want to act like they’re true martial artists and they’re pure to the sport and it’s a disgrace. That’s all bulls—,” Chris Leben said. “Listen, they’re bringing a lot of eyes to combat sports. They’re bringing a lot of attention and a lot of focus and that’s good for us. Right now, BKFC is the fastest-growing sport in the world. Combat sports are now in everybody’s home. These combat sports athletes are household names. 10 years ago, that wasn’t the case. People are getting greedy. Don’t act like that.

“Let’s take it. It makes sense. It makes money. It draws attention. It’s like Conor [McGregor] fighting [Floyd] Mayweather, look that’s a great fight. It was great for MMA. It was great for boxing. Because you had the MMA fans watching the MMA guy, you had MMA guys ordering a boxing pay-per-view. Now all of a sudden you’ve got crossover fans, more embedded in combat sports as a whole. I think there’s no bad about it.”

“Absolutely [I’d fight Jake Paul]. You want to put an extra zero on my paycheck to fight that guy? I just fought Quentin Henry. Yeah, absolutely could fight that guy.”

Do you want to see Chris Leben matched up against Jake Paul?

Chris Leben Scores KO Win Before Retiring At BKFC KnuckleMania

Chris LebenFormer UFC middleweight contender Chris Leben ended his combat sports career on a high last night. ‘The Crippler’ joined Bare Knuckle Fighting Championship in 2019 and has found success with the promotion. He picked up wins over Phil Baroni and Justin Baesman before losing to Dakota Cochrane. Henry was a tough assignment on paper. Since joining […]

Chris Leben

Former UFC middleweight contender Chris Leben ended his combat sports career on a high last night.

‘The Crippler’ joined Bare Knuckle Fighting Championship in 2019 and has found success with the promotion. He picked up wins over Phil Baroni and Justin Baesman before losing to Dakota Cochrane.

Henry was a tough assignment on paper. Since joining BKFC he has looked flawless, beating Brandon Marlborough and Jason Fann in style. The 31-year-old was hoping to get the biggest win of this combat sports career against Leben.

On Friday night, Leben put on a vintage performance against Quentin Henry. Both men came flying out and exchanged punches. The fight went to the clinch position where Leben let off a flurry of uppercuts. As the referee stepped in the separate, Henry fell to the ground holding his eye.  

Replays showed that Leben caught Henry with a clean shot. After some time to recover Henry was back in the fight but not for long. Leben continued to pour it on. Ultimately it was a left hand that put Henry down again, only this time he was unable to beat the referee’s count.

Post-fight, Leben confirmed his retirement from fighting, he said.

“What a f**king way to finish a career right there. I wanted somebody that was going to swing like a motherf**ker at me and I knew Quentin was going to do that. That’s how I wanted to finish my career. Thank you to Quentin and thank you to BKFC for that opportunity.” (Transcribed by MMA Fighting)

The 40-year-old MMA veteran will be remembered as one of the gamest fighters in history. Leben holds several high-profile wins over the likes of Mike Swick, Patrick Cote and Wanderlei Silva. ‘The Crippler’ has also mixed it with some of the best middleweight fighters the UFC has seen. Leben famously introduced 185lb legend Anderson Silva to the UFC. He has also stood in the Octagon with Michael Bisping, Brian Stann, Mark Munhoz, Derek Brunson and Uriah Hall.

What is your favourite Chris Leben fight?

Chris Leben Announces Retirement With Emotional Message

Chris LebenFormer UFC middleweight contender Chris Leben, has announced his retirement. Leben, who is now two years sober and most recently competed in Bare Knuckle Fighting posted a YouTube video announcing his retirement and sharing a message. “I just wanted to put out this short video and make this official,” Leben began his message with “Everybody […]

Chris Leben

Former UFC middleweight contender Chris Leben, has announced his retirement. Leben, who is now two years sober and most recently competed in Bare Knuckle Fighting posted a YouTube video announcing his retirement and sharing a message.

“I just wanted to put out this short video and make this official,” Leben began his message with “Everybody knows I’ve been competing in bare-knuckle, and I think it’s time to retire.

“Couple reasons why,” Leben continued. “Dave Fledman has been wonderful to me. It has nothing to do with that all. It has to do the fact that, first and foremost, I’m an amateur ref here in California. I’m aspiring to go pro, I want to do that, and I feel like it’s a conflict of interest being both a referee and an athlete at the same time. I want to focus on my career as a referee. Also, I want to focus on my career as a coach, as an elite-level coach. I coach jiu jitsu, I coach boxing, I coach MMA. When I’m training, I don’t have the time to put the energy into my athletes.”

While Leben’s focus will turn to refereeing, coaching, his family, and BJJ all contributed to his decision to retire, Leben explained the way his UFC career ended also played a part.

In his final UFC fight, Leben waved off the fight after the 2nd round against Uriah Hall. As a fierce and gritty competitor as he is, Leben knew it was time to call it quits, yet still extremely disappointed with the outcome.

“Here’s the biggest thing that I wanted to talk about,” Leben explained. “My UFC career did not finish the way I wanted it to. I don’t think most people’s do, but I ended up going through a ton of struggles, both in and out of the cage, battling with addiction, battling with alcoholism. Ultimately when I came here to The Arena, I got on that path to recovery. Most people that follow me know I just got my two-year coin. So I’ve been 100 percent sober for two years now. The battle’s been much longer than that. It’s been four years that I’ve really worked at it. I’ve had two slips on alcohol in the last four years, but the last two years, I’ve abstained from any and everything, and God willing, it’s going to be that way that way the rest of my life.”

Fast forward to Leben competing 3 times in Bare Knuckle fights, first, knocking out Phil Baroni in the WBKFF ring. Then, knocked out Justin Baesman in the BKFC ring. Finally, losing very close decision to Dakota Cochrane in the BKFC ring.

While his bout with Cochrane didn’t go his way, Leben gave everything he had for 5 busy rounds. He believes this performance as a far more fitting end to his career than his final UFC fight.

“What matters is, I didn’t finish my carer on the stool,” Leben stated. “So, reflecting on it and thinking about, to be able to come back to combat sports after a lifetime of combat sports, to be able to come back, have those three fights, have that last fight be a knock-down, drag-out war, and finish it in traditional ‘Crippler’ fashion… I feel like I accomplished what I set out to accomplish.” (Transcribed by BJPENN.com)

Chris Leben is a legend of the game forever and his career should be celebrated.

What is your favorite Chris Leben Moment?