Chris Leben: ‘UFC made an offer I couldn’t refuse’
Following one of the most impressive performances of his career in a win over Aaron Simpson at The Ultimate Fighter…
Following one of the most impressive performances of his career in a win over Aaron Simpson at The Ultimate Fighter 11 Finale, middleweight slugger Chris Leben (20-6 MMA, 10-5 UFC) said he was in no rush to get back in the cage.
But now in one of the shortest turnarounds in modern UFC history, Leben steps back in the cage just two weeks later to meet Japanese superstar Yoshihiro Akiyama (13-1 MMA, 1-0 UFC) at Saturday’s UFC 116 event.
So why the change of heart? According to Leben, once Wanderlei Silva was forced out of the contest, the UFC simply made an offer he couldn’t refuse.
“My goal is always to improve and get better between every fight,” Leben told MMAjunkie.com (www.mmajunkie.com). “Your goal should be to make it to the top, otherwise you’re in the wrong sport. That’s exactly what I wanted to do. However, the UFC, they presented me with an offer I couldn’t refuse.”
Leben said he was offered the fight on the Monday following his win over Simpson, and after downing a large pizza on Sunday, “The Crippler” needed a little prodding to accept.
“When (UFC matchmaker) Joe (Silva) called me up, it was Monday morning,” Leben said. “Sunday I had a large pizza. I watched a movie, passed out, woke up with a couple of bumps and bruises, and I was already getting called to fight. My girlfriend told me, and I was like, ‘You’re joking me. You’re pulling my leg.’ Sure enough, a little bit later Dana was calling me.
“The more I thought about it, it became clear. I’m a fighter. This is what I do.”