This biography chronicles the life and career of Chris Leben, one of the most iconic figures in the world of Mixed Martial Arts. From his humble beginnings in Kailua, Hawaii, to his meteoric rise in the UFC, to his
Christian Cyrus Leben is an American former mixed martial artist, referee, and bare knuckle boxer. A professional MMA competitor from 2002 until 2013, he most notably competed in the UFC in the Middleweight division, compiling a record of 12–10 in 22 appearances for the organization. Leben first appeared in the inaugural season of The Ultimate Fighter reality series, and also fought in the now-defunct WEC. He began his UFC career with five victories in a row before suffering a knockout loss to future UFC Middleweight Champion Anderson Silva, and was known for his toughness, chin, determination, and powerful left hand. Leben was the inaugural WEC Middleweight Champion.