marnold

Leben vs Rivera:
One would assume that a man with neon red or green hair named “The Cat
Smasher”–I assume he is a dog person–is comfortable in his skin. Possibly his
confidence generates from being able to reduce his opponent to a bag of
tenderized skin via a series of punishing elbows and fists scantily wrapped in
the UFC’s version of boxing gloves: hands dipped in black paint. Chris Leben
has had a polarizing effect on the public. The Lebenphytes (copyright pending)
grow more passionate for their antihero as his skills seem to be building on a
quarry of granite fists and chin. He has been questioned on his grappling
ability since being shut down by Koscheck’s wrestling prowess in TUF1, but he
claims that submissions are part of his repertoire and the armbar against Edwin
Dewees at 3:26 of the first round October 3 of last year supports his claim.
I have often considered comfort to be dangerous and it is likely Chris agrees.
His leaving Team Quest for tutelage under the great Matt Hume at AMC in Seattle
means that he is in less danger in his fight with Rivera.
Recently a video clip of Rivera training for his fight has surfaced. He pounds
the gloves of his trainer, wheeling about, snapping off impressive hooks,
straight jabs, and a front snap kick. Afterward he had 19 words to say: “‘Yo
Chris, I’m getting ready to brawl with you, and one of us is getting laid out.
You’re it.’” Jorge lets his ability take on the lion’s share of his speaking.
Jorge Rivera is fighting for more than his unwillingness to return to his days
as a street brawler and fated inmate of a penitentiary. He is fighting for more
than his unwillingness to return to being a construction worker and day laborer
in Framingham, MA. He is knocking his gloves together before stepping into the
octagon for more than his children and parents. He is fighting for Puerto
Rico–an island having amassed a collection of world title holders in boxing
that lists Felix Trinidad as 33 on a list of their top 50 fighters. As for the
UFC, Puerto Rico’s dance card is very open. As Jorge has intimated, the former
UFC Heavyweight champ Ricco Rodriguez was ½ Itallian and ½ Puerto Rican while
Jorge is hoping to become the first 100% Boricua champion of the UFC. Having
beaten the veteran and embattled submission specialist Dennis Hallman, Jorge
wants to use the notoriety and popularity of a win over favorite Leben to
catapult himself into a championship bout with the winner of Franklin vs
Loiseau March 4. He lost to Franklin by armbar in October 22, 2004 and defeated
Loiseau September 26, 2003. With both Rivera and Leben purporting their
striking ability, and Leben’s unwillingness and repulsion for tapping out, this
fight wa always going to end with 50% of the 2 fighters being unconscious.
The first fight of the night. Damn I love this sport. The crowd seems to be
squirming, knowing that violence is about to spill past the calm and drench the
octagon. Chris enters the ring smiling maniacally and then shifting to a fierce
stare. Jorge is content to continue his disciplined routine of sportsmanship.
He bounces from one foot to another in an undoubtedly rehearsed and comforting
cadence.
Chris briefly takes down Rivera 20 seconds into the fight, but Rivera seems
physically stronger pushing Chris off and spinning comfortably on his heels.
Leben narrowly misses an elbow and his unique foot stomp misses its mark. Still
in the first round, both meet in the middle of the octagon and throw punches.
Chris “The Crippler” Leben throws a short, compact, deceptively powerful, and
perfectly placed left jab that lands right on the point of Jorge’s chin. Jorge
falls to his knees while Chris drapes rapidly over him pummeling the side of
his face and head from behind. Mercifully, Big John McCarthy stopped the bout
at 3:25.
With his robin-red died hair conspicuously bearing a painted large X
on his obviously solid head and a cauliflower ear telling a serious tale of its
own, Leben mugs for the camera. He smiles, points, and we are left wondering
where the clown ends and the killer begins. When asked by Rogan if he is ready
for a title bout, Leben becomes momentarily meditative: “‘I want to be the best
fighter when I get my shot. I want to be the best ever.’” If Chris is patiently
waiting for his considerable talents to match his fans expectations all
culminating in a title bout, why couldn’t this advocate of beer and brawl foot
stomp and joke his way into the UFC Hall of Fame?