Sherdog.com Preview: Ultimate Fight Night 5 Pt II
Chris Leben vs. Anderson Silva
Jun 28, 2006
LEBEN: 5’11”, 185 pounds, 25, Gresham, Oregon, known as “The
Crippler”
BACKGROUND: Leben wrestled in high school and joined the Team Quest Gym shortly there after. There he trained with Nathan Quarry (Pictures), Matt Lindland (Pictures), Ed Herman (Pictures), Randy Couture (Pictures) and trainer Robert Follis. Recently Leben has moved to Seattle to be with his girlfriend and now trains with Matt Hume (Pictures) at AMC Pankration. He has a professional MMA record of 15-1.
MMA CAREER HIGHLIGHTS: Beat James Fanshier (Pictures) by decision at Gladiator
Challenge 20. Knocked out TUF veteran Mike Swick (Pictures) at WEC 9. Lost a decision to
Joe Doerksen (Pictures) at FFC 9. Stopped Benji Radach (Pictures) via injury (broken jaw) at
SportFight 4.
UFC EXPERIENCE: 5-0. Stopped Jason Thacker with strikes at The Ultimate Fighter season one finale. Beat Patrick Cote (Pictures) by decision, submitted Edwin Dewees (Pictures) via armbar, stopped Jorge Rivera (Pictures) with strikes and Beat Luigi Fioravanti (Pictures) by decision — all on the Ultimate Fight Night series.
WHAT HE BRINGS TO THE BOUT: A hard head. He is very difficult to KO. He also finds a way to win. He’s beaten opponents who were, on paper, better grapplers or strikers than he is. He also has the “me against the world” attitude that can help or hurt a MMA fighter. So far it has helped.
ADDITIONAL THOUGHTS: Love or hate him, Leben keeps winning. This will be a major test. “The Crippler” likes to stand and trade and the Muay Thai trained “The Spider” does too, but Silva can work the ground nearly as well. Can Leben stay alive with a grappling machine?
SILVA: 6’, 185 pounds, 31, Curitiba, Brazil, known as “The Spider”
BACKGROUND: Former Chute Boxe fighter now represents the Muay Thai Dream Team under Carlson Gracie BJJ black belt Penão and wrestling coach “He-Man” oversee the team’s groundwork. The accomplished Muay Thai fighter is also a black belt in Brazilian jiu-jitsu and has been working extensively with Antonio Rogerio Nogueira (Pictures) and Antonio Rodrigo Nogueira (Pictures). Silva is Cage Rage and MECA Vale Tudo champion and has a professional record of 15-4 in MMA.
MMA CAREER HIGHLIGHTS: In his pro debut, Anderson lost a decision to Luiz Azeredo (Pictures) at MECA 1. He stopped Claudionor Fontinelle with strikes at MECA 4. Beat veteran Tetsuji Kato (Pictures) by decision at Shooto: To The Top 2. Out-pointed Hayato Sakurai (Pictures) at Shooto: To The Top 7. Stopped Juan Carneiro with strikes at MECA 6. Beat Alex Stiebling (Pictures) by cut stoppage at PRIDE 21. Beat Alex Otsuka by decision at PRIDE 22. Stopped Carlos Newton (Pictures) with strikes at PRIDE 25. Lost via triangle choke to Daiju Takase (Pictures) at PRIDE 26. Beat Jeremy Horn (Pictures) by decision at the Gladiator Fighting Championships Day 2. Defeated Lee Murray (Pictures) by decision at Cage Rage 8. Lost via flying scissor heelhook to Ryo Chonan (Pictures) at PRIDE Shockwave 2004. Stopped Jorge Rivera (Pictures) with strikes at Cage Rage 11. Knocked out Curtis Stout (Pictures) at Cage Rage 14 Lost via disqualification from a kick to PRIDE Bushido veteran Yushin Okami (Pictures) at the Rumble on the Rock 8 tournament. And in April Silva knocked out Tony Fryklund (Pictures) at Cage Rage 16.
UFC EXPERIENCE: Debut
WHAT HE BRINGS TO THE BOUT: Major experience. Silva is battle tested and has faced top-shelf competition his entire MMA career. Having tasted success in Muay Thai and having just received his black belt in jiu-jitsu, there is nowhere Silva won’t feel comfortable. He’s proven it in the ring and cage.
ADDITIONAL THOUGHTS: He doesn’t have the name recognition of a Wanderlei Silva (Pictures) or Royce Gracie (Pictures) but getting Anderson Silva in the UFC was huge. He’s the most talented Brazilian fighter to step in the Octagon since Murilo Bustamate left. Rich Franklin (Pictures) will be watching Wednesday night and he’ll likely be clutching his belt because it looks to me like they’ve signed the man who can take it away from him.
BACKGROUND: Leben wrestled in high school and joined the Team Quest Gym shortly there after. There he trained with Nathan Quarry (Pictures), Matt Lindland (Pictures), Ed Herman (Pictures), Randy Couture (Pictures) and trainer Robert Follis. Recently Leben has moved to Seattle to be with his girlfriend and now trains with Matt Hume (Pictures) at AMC Pankration. He has a professional MMA record of 15-1.
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UFC EXPERIENCE: 5-0. Stopped Jason Thacker with strikes at The Ultimate Fighter season one finale. Beat Patrick Cote (Pictures) by decision, submitted Edwin Dewees (Pictures) via armbar, stopped Jorge Rivera (Pictures) with strikes and Beat Luigi Fioravanti (Pictures) by decision — all on the Ultimate Fight Night series.
Chris was eliminated from The Ultimate Fighter season one
when he lost a decision to Josh Koscheck (Pictures). He was brought back when Quarry
was injured. Leben was eliminated again when Kenny Florian (Pictures) cut him open in the second round
of their elimination bout.
WHAT HE BRINGS TO THE BOUT: A hard head. He is very difficult to KO. He also finds a way to win. He’s beaten opponents who were, on paper, better grapplers or strikers than he is. He also has the “me against the world” attitude that can help or hurt a MMA fighter. So far it has helped.
ADDITIONAL THOUGHTS: Love or hate him, Leben keeps winning. This will be a major test. “The Crippler” likes to stand and trade and the Muay Thai trained “The Spider” does too, but Silva can work the ground nearly as well. Can Leben stay alive with a grappling machine?
SILVA: 6’, 185 pounds, 31, Curitiba, Brazil, known as “The Spider”
BACKGROUND: Former Chute Boxe fighter now represents the Muay Thai Dream Team under Carlson Gracie BJJ black belt Penão and wrestling coach “He-Man” oversee the team’s groundwork. The accomplished Muay Thai fighter is also a black belt in Brazilian jiu-jitsu and has been working extensively with Antonio Rogerio Nogueira (Pictures) and Antonio Rodrigo Nogueira (Pictures). Silva is Cage Rage and MECA Vale Tudo champion and has a professional record of 15-4 in MMA.
MMA CAREER HIGHLIGHTS: In his pro debut, Anderson lost a decision to Luiz Azeredo (Pictures) at MECA 1. He stopped Claudionor Fontinelle with strikes at MECA 4. Beat veteran Tetsuji Kato (Pictures) by decision at Shooto: To The Top 2. Out-pointed Hayato Sakurai (Pictures) at Shooto: To The Top 7. Stopped Juan Carneiro with strikes at MECA 6. Beat Alex Stiebling (Pictures) by cut stoppage at PRIDE 21. Beat Alex Otsuka by decision at PRIDE 22. Stopped Carlos Newton (Pictures) with strikes at PRIDE 25. Lost via triangle choke to Daiju Takase (Pictures) at PRIDE 26. Beat Jeremy Horn (Pictures) by decision at the Gladiator Fighting Championships Day 2. Defeated Lee Murray (Pictures) by decision at Cage Rage 8. Lost via flying scissor heelhook to Ryo Chonan (Pictures) at PRIDE Shockwave 2004. Stopped Jorge Rivera (Pictures) with strikes at Cage Rage 11. Knocked out Curtis Stout (Pictures) at Cage Rage 14 Lost via disqualification from a kick to PRIDE Bushido veteran Yushin Okami (Pictures) at the Rumble on the Rock 8 tournament. And in April Silva knocked out Tony Fryklund (Pictures) at Cage Rage 16.
UFC EXPERIENCE: Debut
WHAT HE BRINGS TO THE BOUT: Major experience. Silva is battle tested and has faced top-shelf competition his entire MMA career. Having tasted success in Muay Thai and having just received his black belt in jiu-jitsu, there is nowhere Silva won’t feel comfortable. He’s proven it in the ring and cage.
ADDITIONAL THOUGHTS: He doesn’t have the name recognition of a Wanderlei Silva (Pictures) or Royce Gracie (Pictures) but getting Anderson Silva in the UFC was huge. He’s the most talented Brazilian fighter to step in the Octagon since Murilo Bustamate left. Rich Franklin (Pictures) will be watching Wednesday night and he’ll likely be clutching his belt because it looks to me like they’ve signed the man who can take it away from him.
