UFC Vet Chris Leben Provides Update on Condition After COVID Hospitalization

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Chris Leben remains hospitalized after suffering from complications due to COVID-19, but he seems to be making some positive progress.

The UFC veteran and “Ultimate Fighter 1” cast member provided an update on his condition from his hospital bed via Instagram on Monday. Leben initially revealed that he had been hospitalized earlier in February due to difficulty breathing following a bout with COVID.

In his latest post, “The Crippler seemed optimistic that he could make a full recovery.

“I think that’s what took the most damage, for sure, is my lungs. 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,” Leben said. “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 — even this crappy hospital food, even this jello, blessings.”

Leben, who competed on Season 1 of “The Ultimate Fighter,” hasn’t competed in MMA since a loss to Uriah Hall at UFC 168 in December 2013. His 22-12 MMA mark includes triumphs over the likes of Wanderlei Silva, Yoshihiro Akiyama, Alessio Sakara, Jorge Santiago, Patrick Cote and Mike Swick. The 41-year-old known as “The Crippler” has competed multiple times in bare-knuckle boxing since his last UFC appearance, most recently defeating Quentin Henry at a BKFC event in February 2021. Leben retired from combat sports following the win over Henry.

Leben didn’t have a timetable for his recovery, but his primary message was one of gratitude after surviving a scary situation.

“I’ll tell you, I learned a lot. I learned a lot. It’s not that I’m scared to die. It’s that I’m in love with life, and I have so much to live for. I have a beautiful child and a thriving new business, and 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. So, yeah — don’t get me wrong, I wouldn’t recommend everybody go through this so they can have a sense of gratitude. I wouldn’t wish it on anybody. 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.”

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