lets discuss Chris Leben - Fight Forum - MMA - UFC - Boxing - K1

RobOne · 08-18-2006, 06:19 AM

well i honestly think he got lucky. He looked SLOPPY. He was walking into punches again. He got caught with a few. He was throwing them wide, and had his chin sitting there with a bow on it. Jorge looked excellent though. Chris caught him with a lucky shot. But all in all I think Chris has not looked good against quality opponents. He should be thanking the mma gods for landing that shot. HE was well on his way to a 2nd consecutive loss. I really dont see him getting past a B level fighter unless he adds something to his game. I am interested to see who they match him up with next.

spiritofbattle · 08-18-2006, 07:57 AM

I totally agree, I thought he was on his way out via knock out in the first couple minutes. Then when it went to the ground submissions were looking promising. Leban has been slacking and it showed last night, I thought Santiago had him, dam the bad luck.

sitnspin · 08-18-2006, 08:01 AM

Chris is a tough kid, but I have yet to consider him championship material. His conditioning's never been great, he's kind of a sloppy striker, and I don't think he's the sharpest knife in the drawer, if you know what I mean. When he said something about "having that belt around my waist" last night, I kind of felt bad for him because I can't see it ever happening.

marnold · 08-18-2006, 08:24 AM

I agree with what everyone has said in this thread, but he has something unique. He's knocking people out with seemingly innocuous punches. It doesn't look like he's putting a lot on these punches but people keep falling. Leben mentioned on UFC.com that in his loss he wasn't light on his feet. I've never seen him light on his feet. He will never be ripped or decidedly agile, but he will entertain with his he could be knocked out at any second or knock someone out style. Are you not entertained?

Snow Patrol · 08-18-2006, 08:25 AM

I totally agree. I just can't see him beating Rich. It would have to be the luckiest punch he's thrown to date to take Rich out.

marnold · 08-18-2006, 08:54 AM

I'd go as far as to say he needs to throw and land a few of the luckiest punches.

Bomber · 08-18-2006, 08:59 AM

I agree with Sitnspin, Leben will never be a champ. I also agree with Marnold, he's entertaining as hell to watch. Go Crippler!

SWIBC · 08-18-2006, 09:00 AM

Can we say Leben is the MW equivalent to Tank Abbott? He will have some spectacular KO's but will not be able to beat the Top Tier Fighters (i.e Franklin, Tanner, Horn, Terrell, A. Silva)

Gygax · 08-18-2006, 09:02 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by sitnspin

Chris is a tough kid, but I have yet to consider him championship material. His conditioning's never been great, he's kind of a sloppy striker, and I don't think he's the sharpest knife in the drawer, if you know what I mean. When he said something about "having that belt around my waist" last night, I kind of felt bad for him because I can't see it ever happening.

My feelings exactly. I'll fully admit I'm not a fan of his. He does have deceptive power in his hands, but most technically sound strikers could easily avoid his looping puches and pick him apart. He was sloppy again last night and got rocked pretty good by a submission guy.

I am far from saying he's a bad fighter as he's got some dynamite in his hands. There's a reason his record is so good. But when he steps up to the very best 185's, he'll always have alot of trouble IMHO.

sitnspin · 08-18-2006, 09:36 AM

Leben would do worse against Franklin than Loiseau did, and it's hard to do much worse than that.

Bomber · 08-18-2006, 09:50 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by sitnspin

Leben would do worse against Franklin than Loiseau did, and it's hard to do much worse than that.

I assume you momentarily forgot about Quarry?

sitnspin · 08-18-2006, 10:01 AM

I did, you're right. Poor Nate.

spiritofbattle · 08-18-2006, 10:07 AM

tank abbott is a bar brawler, im glad hes gone. thank you frank mir and kimo

St.Pierre_is_the_best · 08-18-2006, 10:33 AM

Ya i didnt think Chris really looked to sharp at the stand up, he really didn't have a dangerous looking stand up game. Jorge just had to keep his eyes open and he wudn't have been ko'd. I think if Swick were to rematch Chris, I see a 1rst round submission victory for Swick. And Koshchek could maybe even KO Chris if they were to fight again, Josh's stand up was very pin point, something I would like to see.

SWIBC · 08-18-2006, 10:38 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by St.Pierre_is_the_best

Ya i didnt think Chris really looked to sharp at the stand up, he really didn't have a dangerous looking stand up game. Jorge just had to keep his eyes open and he wudn't have been ko'd. I think if Swick were to rematch Chris, I see a 1rst round submission victory for Swick. And Koshchek could maybe even KO Chris if they were to fight again, Josh's stand up was very pin point, something I would like to see.

Now Koscheck/Leben that would be an entertaining fight. Could be toss-up but Koscheck seems much more polished in his skills right now.

GSPALLTHEWAY · 08-18-2006, 10:58 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by sitnspin

Leben would do worse against Franklin than Loiseau did, and it's hard to do much worse than that.

wait a minute... i thought the crow had a great strategy against rich! he would run away, then go on the ground and curl up in a ball defending hte RNC until rich hits him enough and breaks his hands!! great idea... the judges screwed him in that fight.

MadOne · 08-18-2006, 11:03 AM

I think Santiago closing his eyes and coming in for a punch was sloppy. But Leben is very tough.. and yea he still looked bad last night in the ring getting hit. No he can't beat Rich.. and in my opinion No one currently in the UFC in MW can.
Leben needs some good fights like last night and fight good decent quality fighters.

LB4LB · 08-18-2006, 11:26 AM

Hmm, think about it - maybe the entertainment value that Chris Leben brings is the anticipation of him losing.

RockemSockem · 08-18-2006, 11:45 AM

I think too much of Leben's gameplan relies on his chin. Fighters don't expect someone to literally just walk into them and take the punches and throw a hook while in the process of getting jabbed in the nose 3 times. I feel like that's where a lot of Leben's KOs come from. Once you get to the top of the division, that's just not gonna work.

Tinker Bell · 08-18-2006, 11:50 AM

Chris Leban is a brawler, and in my opinion that's all he will ever be. He's quick to gass out, and his ground game is sub par at best. The only thing is, the guy is always a lucky looping punch away from knocking his opponents out and winning the match. Such technique will not get anyone far in the UFC against top tier fighters like Rich Franklin and as we seen, Anderson Silva. I'd like to see Mike Swick get a re-match with Chris Leban, cause I see that fight going a whole different way then before, with Swick coming out as the winner.