Chris Leben Announces Retirement from MMA After 22-Bout UFC Tenure
Chris Leben’s bout at UFC 168 was his last. |
Sherdog.com
Chris Leben is hanging up his gloves after an 11-year professional career that included 22 bouts in the Ultimate Fighting Championship.
Leben officially announced his retirement during Monday’s edition of The MMA Hour.
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“After [UFC 168], I wanted to go back and re-evaluate things, make sure that the decision wasn’t based purely on emotion. That it was really what I wanted to do. And now, yes, I can say, I’ve really retired from competing in MMA.”
Leben was an integral figure in the UFC’s growth. One of the most polarizing figures on Season 1 of “The Ultimate Fighter,” Leben’s in-house feud with fellow cast members Josh Koscheck and Bobby Southworth helped to generate interest in the reality show.
His heavy-handed, brawling style made him a fan favorite during his tenure with the promotion, where he posted a 12-10 mark with notable wins over Patrick Cote, Jorge Rivera, Aaron Simpson, Yoshihiro Akiyama and Wanderlei Silva, to name a few.
Leben also battled his share of demons. He was arrested for an alcohol-related offense in 2008 and for suspicion of DUI in 2010. He also tested positive for oxy-morphine and oxycodone following a loss to Mark Munoz at UFC 138. Leben was previously suspended by the UFC in October 2008 after testing positive for the anabolic steroid stanozolol following a three-round decision loss to Michael Bisping.
“The Crippler” struggled upon returning from the year-long suspension, losing three straight bouts. It was after the last of those defeats, in which he retired in his corner after taking a beating in the opening round against Uriah Hall at UFC 168, that Leben elected to call it a career.
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