lets discuss Chris Leben

Crashsti · 08-18-2006, 12:54 PM

Leben will be around for awhile because he is popular from being on TUF. skill wise i am not sure what to say about him. i agree with the Tank Abbot camparison, except that Leben does have some basic understanding of the ground game. he certainlyt does'nt have what it takes to gain a title shot.

kane · 08-18-2006, 01:00 PM

I just wish leben would watch some chuck videos and start to be a counter puncher who always is changing up angles like chuck. He has power, instead the guy walks into punches. Atleast he admitted last night that he just threw that punch without looking knowing santiago was there. Really chris has improved little since his tuf days.

Ray433 · 08-18-2006, 01:25 PM

I dig Leben, do I think he is championship material, nope, but he is still fun to watch.

Profane · 08-18-2006, 02:03 PM

im a big none liker of Leben and i think he got really lucky. it sucks cuz i put points on Santiago and i thought he was gonna win that fight.

i think Leben would beat Swick in a rematch. to me Swick is the quick version of Leben. he trys to beat you to the punch where Leben trys to Punch with you but just harder. there both wild fighters and they both put themselves into danger for the big knockout. i think Swick hasnt been exposed yet but just like Leben i think he will get owned in the Octagon here soon.

RockemSockem · 08-18-2006, 02:10 PM

I can understand your skepticism, but both of them have a lot of very impressive wins in the octagon. A lot of people say TUF guys get coddled. But they've been some impressive fighters. They don't fight any of the top contenders until a few fights in, but that holds true for all fighters unless you're someone like Anderson Silva. I don't think either could beat Franklin right now, but how do you hold that against someone? Franklin is considered undisputed by a lot of hardcore MMA fans. Give these TUF guys a few years to really round out there skills, and UFC is going to be stacked.

Harms · 08-18-2006, 02:21 PM

Leben still needs alot of work. I don't see him beating Franklin anytime soon. I just hope they don't rush him to a title shot. I enjoy watching his fights.

Beefutz · 08-18-2006, 10:13 PM

that fight showed me the good and bad of leben. What I like about him is that he is a brawler who is willing to trade and that makes for exciting fights. However, his defense is poor, his handspeed is average and he does not really seem to approach his fights with anything resembling a gameplan. I was really thinking that he was evolving when he fought Dewees, but the silva fight really exposed a gaping hole in his game, and tbh, that hole was still much in evidence v santiago.

OneBigThrow · 08-19-2006, 04:43 PM

Quote:

I don't see him beating Franklin anytime soon

if i hear this one more time im gonna send my head through the monitor

THERES NO COMPARISON, IT AINT FAIR TO THE ROOKIES TO USE FRANKLIN AS THE STANDARD

Bomber · 08-19-2006, 05:05 PM

THERES NO COMPARISON, IT AINT FAIR TO THE ROOKIES TO USE FRANKLIN AS THE STANDARD

Hey, Leben is the one who said he wants to be champ. In which case he'll have to go through Franklin or whatever monster unseats him. Being MW champ in the UFC is no cake walk. The top guys are better than most fighters will ever achieve, no matter how long they compete. Leben's saying he'll be an elite fighter, the best of the best. I don't believe he'll get there.

Goeth27 · 08-19-2006, 05:13 PM

A fighter always has a punchers chance, and I think its pretty pre-mature to make a statement that leben will NEVER be champion.

This is kinda what i like about Leben and Silvia, they keep proving people wrong time and time again.

OneBigThrow · 08-19-2006, 05:19 PM

Rich Franklin is freaking good, and Im pretty sure in Leben's heart of hearts he knows he isnt ready to fight him yet...but NO DOUBT he'd take the fight on a dime if presented to him

thats all im sayin

Bomber · 08-19-2006, 05:34 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Goeth27

This is kinda what i like about Leben and Silvia, they keep proving people wrong time and time again.

You did see him fight Anderson Silva, didn't you?

spiritofbattle · 08-19-2006, 05:42 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Profane

im a big none liker of Leben and i think he got really lucky. it sucks cuz i put points on Santiago and i thought he was gonna win that fight.

i think Leben would beat Swick in a rematch. to me Swick is the quick version of Leben. he trys to beat you to the punch where Leben trys to Punch with you but just harder. there both wild fighters and they both put themselves into danger for the big knockout. i think Swick hasnt been exposed yet but just like Leben i think he will get owned in the Octagon here soon.

leban would not beat swick, i just cant see that happening.

Goeth27 · 08-19-2006, 05:53 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Bomber

You did see him fight Anderson Silva, didn't you?

Sure did, im not saying he is going to be a champ, but im saying , you cannot say he WILL NOT be a champ some day.

Profane · 08-19-2006, 06:04 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Goeth27

Sure did, im not saying he is going to be a champ, but im saying , you cannot say he WILL NOT be a champ some day.

Why cant you say he will not be a champ some day. i think thats a resonable statment. the only way i see him being the champ is if Dana White gives him a title shot out of no where. Leben is a good puncher and an average overall fighter to be champ in his position he'd have to string together a good amount of wins. yeah if he fought Franklin tommorrow he'd have a punches chance of winning. but to climb up the ranks deserving a title shot you need more then a punchers chance. Lebens window for a title shot got closed really quick with that knock out from Silva. yeah his win opened it up a lil but after a loss it opens alot slower.

compcast · 08-19-2006, 06:06 PM

IMO i think he has a good chance against rich franklin for the simple fact he throws those wild hay makers and franklin seems to get caught with a good shot or two and buckles,so if he connects anything can happen also he pretty good on the ground to,i think it would be a good match up and i think he has had some of the toughest fights next to rashad evans of any of the guys on the show.he needs to work on his boxing defense cause he looked kind of sloopy and depending on his so tough chin he get kicked in the head like brandon did eliers is theonly complaint i have right now

WheresBobbySouthworth · 08-19-2006, 06:11 PM

I seriously could have almost cried watching Santiago get nailed with that KO punch. He looked like he was going to win, probably by decision. He kept peppering Leben, actually getting some hard shots in, whereas Leben was outclassed speed wise, not able to get close or in any position to land a good shot and still sticking his chin out like he did against Silva. Then, Santiago comes in after a nice shot, and presses the action and goes right into a left-hand and the fight is over. My heart just sank and kind of ruined the feel of the event for me. I dislike Leben tremendously and thought he was about to go 0 for his last 2.

Profane · 08-19-2006, 06:12 PM

like i said i'd give him a small chance agianst Franklin i give him an even smaller chance of running off 5 wins in a row agianst good to elite compitition.

Ryduce · 08-19-2006, 06:18 PM

He's so slow.It's like he's punching in slow motion.Jorge walked right into that punch,but up until then Leben was getting hit pretty good.He has a good chin,and throws haymakers and he thinks that will equate to a good career.Any decent to good striker will hurt him bad.He is alright on the ground,but he just looks terrible standing.If he actually trains hard he can be a good fighter,but it seems like he'll continue to do things his way.

WheresBobbySouthworth · 08-19-2006, 06:22 PM

I saw that Leben has a decision victory over Cote. How could he win any decisions in a striking battle? It doesn't seem like he can keep up with the speed of other fighters, and just waits to get a good shot in after taking a bunch. If guys without that KO power just pepper him and get out of there, this guy could lose a bunch more. I would think him by KO or he's losing