Chris Leben

“The Crippler”

MMA · Retired

22-12RECORD

12KO / TKO WINS

5SUBMISSION WINS

5DECISION WINS

Profile

Full name	Christian Cyrus Leben
Nickname	The Crippler
Date of birth	21 Jul 1980
Nationality	American
Birthplace	Portland, Oregon, U.S.
Lives in	Chula Vista, California, U.S.
Division	Middleweight
Team	Alliance MMA
Height	180 cm (5′11″)
Reach	188 cm (74″)
Stance	Southpaw
Years active	2002–2013
Status	Retired
Pro debut	9 Nov 2002
Last fight	Loss vs Uriah Hall, 28 Dec 2013

Details on this page were compiled from public information on 10 Oct 2026 (the record is as of that date). Is this you? Claim this profile to correct anything and add your photo and bio. Claim this profile

Titles and honours

WEC Middleweight Champion (inaugural)
Gladiator Challenge Middleweight Champion
The Ultimate Fighter 1 semi-finalist
Four UFC Knockout of the Night bonuses
Two UFC Fight of the Night bonuses

Background

Former mixed martial artist, referee and bare-knuckle boxer who competed mainly in the UFC middleweight division from 2005 to 2013. He was the first WEC Middleweight Champion and was known for his toughness and powerful left hand.

Fight history

34 professional fights. Newest first.

Result	Opponent	Method	Round	Time	Event	Date	Location	Notes
Loss	Uriah Hall	TKO (retirement)	1	5:00	UFC 168	28 Dec 2013	Las Vegas, Nevada, U.S.
Loss	Andrew Craig	Decision (split)	3	5:00	UFC 162	6 Jul 2013	Las Vegas, Nevada, U.S.
Loss	Derek Brunson	Decision (unanimous)	3	5:00	UFC 155	29 Dec 2012	Las Vegas, Nevada, U.S.
Loss	Mark Muñoz	TKO (corner stoppage)	2	5:00	UFC 138	5 Nov 2011	Birmingham, England	Tested positive for oxycodone and oxymorphone
Win	Wanderlei Silva	KO (punches)	1	0:27	UFC 132	2 Jul 2011	Las Vegas, Nevada, U.S.
Loss	Brian Stann	TKO (knee and punches)	1	3:37	UFC 125	1 Jan 2011	Las Vegas, Nevada, U.S.
Win	Yoshihiro Akiyama	Submission (triangle choke)	3	4:40	UFC 116	3 Jul 2010	Las Vegas, Nevada, U.S.	Fight of the Night
Win	Aaron Simpson	TKO (punches)	2	4:17	The Ultimate Fighter 11 Finale	19 Jun 2010	Las Vegas, Nevada, U.S.	Knockout of the Night
Win	Jay Silva	Decision (unanimous)	3	5:00	UFC Fight Night: Maynard vs. Diaz	11 Jan 2010	Fairfax, Virginia, U.S.
Loss	Jake Rosholt	Technical Submission (arm-triangle choke)	3	1:30	UFC 102	29 Aug 2009	Portland, Oregon, U.S.
Loss	Michael Bisping	Decision (unanimous)	3	5:00	UFC 89	18 Oct 2008	Birmingham, England	Tested positive for stanozolol
Win	Alessio Sakara	TKO (punches)	1	3:16	UFC 82	1 Mar 2008	Columbus, Ohio, U.S.	Knockout of the Night
Win	Terry Martin	KO (punch)	3	3:56	UFC Fight Night: Thomas vs. Florian	19 Sep 2007	Las Vegas, Nevada, U.S.	Knockout of the Night
Loss	Kalib Starnes	Decision (unanimous)	3	5:00	UFC 71	26 May 2007	Las Vegas, Nevada, U.S.	Fight of the Night
Loss	Jason MacDonald	Submission (guillotine choke)	2	4:03	UFC 66	30 Dec 2006	Las Vegas, Nevada, U.S.
Win	Jorge Santiago	KO (punch)	2	0:35	UFC Fight Night 6	17 Aug 2006	Las Vegas, Nevada, U.S.	Knockout of the Night
Loss	Anderson Silva	KO (knee)	1	0:49	UFC Fight Night 5	28 Jun 2006	Las Vegas, Nevada, U.S.	UFC Middleweight title eliminator
Win	Luigi Fioravanti	Decision (unanimous)	3	5:00	UFC Fight Night 4	6 Apr 2006	Las Vegas, Nevada, U.S.
Win	Jorge Rivera	TKO (punches)	1	1:44	UFC Fight Night 3	16 Jan 2006	Las Vegas, Nevada, U.S.
Win	Edwin Dewees	Submission (armbar)	1	3:26	UFC Fight Night 2	3 Oct 2005	Las Vegas, Nevada, U.S.
Win	Patrick Côté	Decision (split)	3	5:00	UFC Ultimate Fight Night	6 Aug 2005	Las Vegas, Nevada, U.S.
Win	Jason Thacker	TKO (punches)	1	1:35	The Ultimate Fighter 1 Finale	9 Apr 2005	Las Vegas, Nevada, U.S.
Win	Benji Radach	TKO (broken jaw)	3	3:43	SF 4: Fight For Freedom	26 Jun 2004	Gresham, Oregon, U.S.
Loss	Joe Doerksen	Decision (unanimous)	3	5:00	Freestyle Fighting Championships 9	14 May 2004	Biloxi, Mississippi, U.S.	For the vacant FFC Middleweight Championship
Win	Justin Davis	KO (punch)	1	1:54	SF 3: Dome	17 Apr 2004	Gresham, Oregon, U.S.
Win	Boyd Ballard	KO (punches)	1	1:50	UFCF: Night of Champions	31 Jan 2004	Lynnwood, Washington, U.S.
Win	Mike Swick	KO (punch)	2	0:45	WEC 9	16 Jan 2004	Lemoore, California, U.S.	Won the inaugural WEC Middleweight Championship
Win	James Fanshier	Decision (unanimous)	3	5:00	Gladiator Challenge 20	13 Nov 2003	Colusa, California, U.S.	Won the vacant GC Middleweight Championship
Win	Brian Sleeman	Submission (armbar)	1	3:15	WEC 8	17 Oct 2003	Lemoore, California, U.S.
Win	Boyd Ballard	Submission (armbar)	1	2:18	UFCF: Night of Champions	11 Oct 2003	Lynnwood, Washington, U.S.
Win	Landon Showalter	Decision (unanimous)	3	5:00	TQP: Sport Fight "Second Coming"	23 Aug 2003	Gresham, Oregon, U.S.
Win	Otto Olson	KO (punch)	1	2:01	UFCF: Battle in Seattle	26 Jul 2003	Seattle, Washington, U.S.
Loss	Paulo Gazze	Decision	3	5:00	HFP: Hitman Fight Productions 3	2 May 2003	Santa Ana, California, U.S.
Win	Bryce Hamilton	Submission (armbar)	1	2:45	UFCF: Everett Extreme Challenge 6	9 Nov 2002	Everett, Washington, U.S.