Silva Out, Leben In Against Akiyama at UFC 116
by Anthony Pace on Jun 22, 2010 7:03 PM EDT
Email
PrintWanderlei Silva, who was scheduled to meet Yoshihiro Akiyama at UFC 116 on July 3, has been forced to withdraw from the card due to fractured ribs suffered in training, UFC president Dana White confirmed with MMA Fighting Tuesday afternoon.
Fresh off a dominant win at The Ultimate Fighter 11 Finale, Chris Leben has agreed to replace injured Wanderlei Silva and fight Yoshihiro Akiyama in the co-headliner of next week's UFC 116 event.
A source close to the event told MMAjunkie.com Leben has agreed to the bout and is expected to sign shortly.
While fans of The Axe Murderer, such as myself, are surely disappointed by this news, it's the best thing that's happened to Leben in years. It's the most relevance he's had at 185lbs. since being sacrificed to Anderson Silva in 2006. For "The Crippler", it's an amazing personal and professional turnaround that finds him in a much friendlier limelight than the one that shone on him coming off the original season of The Ultimate Fighter.
Current UFC 116 Main Card:
19 comments
|
0 recs |
Do you like this story?
Comments
damn it
at least Leben comes to fight though….so….maybe it’ll be a good one.
http://www.mmaforreal.com
Follow Me On Twitter@MMA4Real
Leben can definitely win.
Inhale deep, like the words of my breath—I never sleep, cause sleep is the cousin of death
by Anthony Pace on Jun 22, 2010 7:15 PM EDT up reply actions
Unlike Saunders (whom I picked) against Fitch...
Inhale deep, like the words of my breath—I never sleep, cause sleep is the cousin of death
by Anthony Pace on Jun 22, 2010 7:15 PM EDT up reply actions
The people who picked Saunders did it more out of hating Fitch,than an honest assessment of Saunders skill set.There is no way you could look at how Saunders was absolutley useless on the ground against Mike Swick and go,“Yeah,this guy is going to beat Jon Fitch.”
Check out my MMA highlight videos!
http://www.dailymotion.com/WheelchairBandit
I don't hate Fitch
And I knew Saunders had no chance. If you go back and look at the predictions, I picked Saunders purely because I liked his moxie in taking the fight
Inhale deep, like the words of my breath—I never sleep, cause sleep is the cousin of death
by Anthony Pace on Jun 22, 2010 7:39 PM EDT up reply actions
Fair enough,but do you want to pick a fight correctly,or do you want to give a guy props?
Check out my MMA highlight videos!
http://www.dailymotion.com/WheelchairBandit
by Brian Mayes on Jun 22, 2010 7:56 PM EDT up reply actions 1 recs
I would favor Akiyama to outbox Leben,get takedowns and either get a late submission or a clear cut decision.The question mark here is how the year layoff is going to effect Akiyama,and the fact that Akiyama can be hittable at times.If Leben landed a killshot and straight decapitated Akiyama,I wouldn’t blink.
Should be a good,competitive fight either way.
Check out my MMA highlight videos!
http://www.dailymotion.com/WheelchairBandit
It’s a good fight for such short notice. I’m definitely leaning Akiyama via either decision or a sub, but I think he’ll get the sub early rather than later.
I think though, if Akiyama is to announce his presence in the division he should thoroughly dispatch Leben, unlike Lil Nog’s recent performance.
Inhale deep, like the words of my breath—I never sleep, cause sleep is the cousin of death
by Anthony Pace on Jun 22, 2010 7:38 PM EDT up reply actions
I don’t see Akiyama getting an early sub on Leben,mainly due to the fact that Akiyama has been out so long and is going to be quite rusty.It’s going to take him at least a round and a half to get into the swing of things.Also,Akiyama tends to want to stand and bang with guys quite a bit,and he’ll want to do that with Leben for awhile.
I don’t think Akiyama is really worried about announcing his presence in the division.The dude was willing to sit out for months to face Wanderlei Silva,who’s not exactly a contender.He wants to put on entertaining fights.He wants to be popular.If anything,Akiyama should probably be fighting at 170.
Check out my MMA highlight videos!
http://www.dailymotion.com/WheelchairBandit
That's how I'm looking at it
Akiyama’s judo could make Leben look foolish, but that man has a chance to utterly kill his opponent until the end of the fight.
Live previews and reviews of all major fights!
LightsOutRadio.com
Akiyama’s judo could make Leben look foolish
i’m banking on that…..plus Akiyamas chin
"Be yourself, don't take anyone's shit, and never let them take you alive." ~ George Way
by RearNakedPoke on Jun 23, 2010 8:51 AM EDT up reply actions
Akiyama doesn’t have the greatest chin ever.Got blasted by Misaski,who’s not exactly a power puncher per say,and got dropped on his ass against Belcher.
Check out my MMA highlight videos!
http://www.dailymotion.com/WheelchairBandit
didnt see the former and Belchers a stud…
"Be yourself, don't take anyone's shit, and never let them take you alive." ~ George Way
by RearNakedPoke on Jun 27, 2010 12:46 PM EDT up reply actions
Badass
When is the last time a guy stepped up to fight twice in less than a month inside the UFC. Sure people like horn, fulton, and monson, have all fought twice or more in a month and been succesful outside of the UFC. but no one has done this inside the UFC in a very long time, or ever that I know of. A win here would be historic if you ask me. And would FINALLY make me a fan.
Bummer that Wandy is out
With that being said they got a great replacement, tell you what though I think a replay of UFC 100 would favor Leben that power makes up for a lot.
Ride the Tiger!
by doonerthesooner on Jun 23, 2010 9:10 AM EDT reply actions
Leben did not dominate Aaron Simpson.
He was getting clowned in the first round and then for some reason Simpson decided to brawl with him. Which is what Akiyama will do and I can see Leben winning this fight late in the 3rd. Probably a lot like his fight with Terry Martin.
If Leben put Akiyama’s lights out,it wouldn’t suprise me in the least.
Check out my MMA highlight videos!
http://www.dailymotion.com/WheelchairBandit
Which
is why Akiyama may not want to fight him…
http://www.mmaforreal.com
Follow Me On Twitter@MMA4Real
by Kelvin Hunt on Jun 24, 2010 10:34 AM EDT up reply actions
Certain photos copyright © 2012 by Associated Press or Getty Images. Any commercial use or distribution without the express written consent of Associated Press and Getty Images is strictly prohibited.
