Chris Leben vs. Mike Swick May Headline UFC Fight Night 11 - Fight Forum - MMA - UFC - Boxing - K1

BlingDogg · 07-07-2007, 10:29 AM

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According to UFC president Dana White, one-time top UFC middleweight contender Mike Swick (10-2 MMA, 5-1 UFC) could get his long-awaited rematch with The Ultimate Fighter 1 castmate Chris Leben (16-4 MMA, 6-3 UFC).

White mentioned the possibility during a special question-and-answer session with UFC Fight Club members yesterday at UFC 73 weigh-ins.

Additionally, UFCjunkie.com (UFC blog for UFC news, MMA news, UFC rumors, UFC gossip, fighter interviews and event previews and recaps - UFCjunkie.com) has learned that the fight is being discussed as a main event for a possible UFC Fight Night 11 event that would take place in August or September. The Spike TV special could precede the debut episode of The Ultimate Fighter 6, which kicks off in September.

The possible Swick vs. Leben fight is a rematch three-and-a-half years in the making. During a January 2004 WEC event, Leben scored a second-round knockout punch that dropped Swick and halted the bout. Leben continually reminded Swick and the other castmates of that victory during the taping of The Ultimate Fighter 1, and the otherwise sedate and composed Swick angrily vowed to avenge the loss.

Swick, who posted four consecutive first-round stoppages to begin his UFC career, had posted a total of five consecutive victories before his loss to Yushin Okami in April at UFC 69. After the loss, Swick had discussed the possibility of moving down a weight class to 170 pounds. UFCjunkie.com even learned that he had undergone a trial run and was encouraged by the results.

However, if the fight with Leben were to happen, it almost assuredly would take place at 185 pounds; Leben probably just couldn’t cut enough weight to get any lighter.

Like Swick, Leben won the first five fights of his UFC career and emerged as a promising middleweight contender. However, in his toughest test, he suffered a lopsided KO loss to Anderson Silva in the televised portion of UFC Fight Night 5. He bounced back with a second-round KO of Jorge Santiago at UFC Fight Night 6, but Leben dropped submission losses to Jason MacDonald at UFC 66 and to Kalib Starnes at UFC 71. He’s now lost three of his past four fights.

Despite the fact that both fighters are coming off defeats, a bout between two of The Ultimate Fighter’s most notable stars — who just happen to have a marketable rivalry — could be a solid draw for Spike TV.

Just a rumor right now.

source: UFCjunkie.com Exclusive: Chris Leben vs. Mike Swick May Headline UFC Fight Night 11 -- UFC news at UFCjunkie.com

Corey · 07-07-2007, 10:40 AM

I thought swick was goin down to ww? wtf mates?

H@mmerM@n · 07-07-2007, 10:44 AM

Well this would be a great fight to watch but I would still like to see swick fighting at ww

Rocky12233 · 07-07-2007, 10:46 AM

I'll watch it. Definetly an appealing fight to me.

Xagoth · 07-07-2007, 10:56 AM

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Originally Posted by Rocky12233

I'll watch it. Definetly an appealing fight to me.

Definitely looks like a good fight.

Hopefully Leben can get back on track after losing 3 out of his last 4.

jm1010 · 07-07-2007, 11:06 AM

Im not too interested in this fight. I think Swick would dominate. I am way more interested in seeing Swick at WW.

Saskabush · 07-07-2007, 11:17 AM

Wtf why do they keep giving Leben fights? They oust guys like Louiseau but they keep Leben? Guess it's another example of the TUF syndrome.

jm1010 · 07-07-2007, 11:27 AM

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Originally Posted by Saskabush

Wtf why do they keep giving Leben fights? They oust guys like Louiseau but they keep Leben? Guess it's another example of the TUF syndrome.

You're right. Leben has lost three of his last four fights. Louiseau loses decisions to Rich Franklin and Mike Swick and they give him the boot. Leben gets knocked out and submitted, and then loses to Kalib Starnes and he gets more fights. The only thing I can think of is he is still under contract. Does any one know how many fights is left on it?

Corey · 07-07-2007, 11:40 AM

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Originally Posted by jm1010

You're right. Leben has lost three of his last four fights. Louiseau loses decisions to Rich Franklin and Mike Swick and they give him the boot. Leben gets knocked out and submitted, and then loses to Kalib Starnes and he gets more fights. The only thing I can think of is he is still under contract. Does any one know how many fights is left on it?

You guys look at it the wrong way. When has chris leben ever been in a boring fight? He's very marketable cuz he will always go out and bang. That means $$$$$$$$$ to the ufc, so of course the ufcs gonna keep him around. And personally, I don't blame them.

Thanks Corey. I feel the same way. If you put your chin out there and have exciting fights, people will want to see more--or they should.

Gooner · 07-07-2007, 11:46 AM

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Originally Posted by jm1010

You're right. Leben has lost three of his last four fights. Louiseau loses decisions to Rich Franklin and Mike Swick and they give him the boot. Leben gets knocked out and submitted, and then loses to Kalib Starnes and he gets more fights. The only thing I can think of is he is still under contract. Does any one know how many fights is left on it?

You bring up a good point against Loiseau too.
Those two decision-losses he had were horrible fights from his point of view.
He was mostly running away and Dana doesn't appreciate that much. And the following fight against Villasenor wasn't that great either.

I'm actually interested to see this fight, and have been for a while. I think they could hype it up pretty well too (with all the talk they had back on TUF1).
So, if Swick wins, maybe he'll go to WW and Leben can go to WEC?

Quote:

However, if the fight with Leben were to happen, it almost assuredly would take place at 185 pounds; Leben probably just couldn’t cut enough weight to get any lighter.

Yeah, he has absolutely no fat left to lose...

jm1010 · 07-07-2007, 11:51 AM

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Originally Posted by Gooner

You bring up a good point against Loiseau too.
Those two decision-losses he had were horrible fights from his point of view.
He was mostly running away and Dana doesn't appreciate that much. And the following fight against Villasenor wasn't that great either.

Yeah, your right. I wasnt really thinking of what happened in the fight, but I would just rather see Louseau in the UFC rather than Leben. Leben just seems like he is going down hill ever since the Silva fight.

Elder · 07-07-2007, 12:07 PM

Please .. Please.. no more Leben. I can't get excited about watching him fight. It's the same with Joe Riggs and Eddie Sanchez. I don't want to see any of these guys again.

earvinarp · 07-07-2007, 12:07 PM

Leben's fights are terrible. How can anyone say otherwise? There is no one slower than him in his weight class (and maybe in any weight classes). I tried to like him. I sided with him during his TUF season because he looked to me like the helpless kid, whom no one understands, and on whom everyone picks.

But now, after many fights, I realize the guy is just plain bad and will not improve. His fighting style has never changed. He gases out in every fight and his "stregth" in the stand up game does not even compare to that of the top ten strikers in the MW division.

Swick is a different story. He is serious. He has improved and he deserves to fight better opponents. But, given that Leben gave him a loss (hardly important anymore as he has already lost a second), the UFC will try to milk the cow by having them fight each other, despite the fact that Mike had already made up his mind to go down to WW (we have seen the UFC force guys to fight is weight classes they did not want to fight - Jason Miller comes to mind).

Terrible news, but thanks for sharing.

BlingDogg · 07-07-2007, 12:07 PM

I don't like either fighter, but I respect Swick for his skills and his impressive wins he's had in the UFC. But after seeing TUF, I just can't give Leben much respect. Swick's a talented fighter, and much better overall compared to Leben. Leben has some heavy hands, but sloppy striking, and he hasn't impressed me by the way he's fought and managed to win.

I hope Swick wins this, and I think he will, probably by taking it to the ground, or getting a KO standing. I predict a referee stoppage by round 2.

I really hope this will be the last of Leben. He's not that good, and the UFC has kept him much longer than he deserves, compared to other more skilled guys who've been kicked out.

twigz · 07-07-2007, 12:09 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Corey

You guys look at it the wrong way. When has chris leben ever been in a boring fight? He's very marketable cuz he will always go out and bang. That means $$$$$$$$$ to the ufc, so of course the ufcs gonna keep him around. And personally, I don't blame them.

Thats how I look at it too. The Crow just doesn't have the will to fight anymore, well atleast thats what it looked like in his last few fights. Horrible performances.

OneTwoPunch · 07-07-2007, 12:24 PM

Swick will destroy Leben. i can understand a couple losses but if he loses rhis then 4 in a row? As he said it himself, you should not be fighting in the UFC if you are losing.

Kurtis636 · 07-07-2007, 12:31 PM

Yeah, David Louiseau is barely recognizable as himself anymore. He's looked like absolute garbage in his last few fights. He's not even a shell of his former self. That beating that Rich Franklin put on him just took all the desire to be a champion out of him.

HaVoK · 07-07-2007, 12:31 PM

I really don't think Leben should be fighting in the UFC anymore, but I would really love to see this fight happen and Swick completely demolish him. I think this is the only way Swick would fight at 185 again. I want to see Swick get another win under his belt.

sscheffner · 07-07-2007, 02:36 PM

meh, im tired of leben. theres no reason to have his headlining anything at this point.

The_Iceman · 07-07-2007, 04:04 PM

The guy hasn't proven anything, he should drop down weight classes if anything and have KOS take him out. And, what kind of a contract does he have any ways to keep around for this long? He should have been sent down to WEC or something to prove that he can compete in the big leagues. I hope they Kick Leben to the curb after his next fight, to whom ever it may be.