Chris Leben reportedly cut 21 pounds in 24 hours for UFC 138
Posted on November 7, 2011, 04:57 PM by Trent Reinsmith
When we last saw Chris Leben he was telling his corner that he could not see out of his left eye after Mark Munoz’s “Donkey Kong” style ground and pound left him bleeding badly from that eye. The fight was stopped after Leben’s admission in his corner and Munoz took the TKO victory, moving him one step closer to the Middleweight title bout that he requested following his UFC 138 victory.
If you saw the fight, it was easy to notice that Munoz looked much fresher between Rounds 1 and 2 as Leben’s breathing appeared labor when the second round began. The reason for Leben’s cardio troubles may have had something to do with the fast paced first round coupled with his weight cut in the 24 hours leading up UFC 138’s main event.
Fighter’s Only reported that sources told them that Leben had to cut nearly 21 pounds in the 24 hours leading up to the fight. The report said that the weight cut left Leben “shattered.” - for more see FightersOnly
Further Reading: UFC 138 Results Recap: Mark Munoz delivers in Birmingham
Comments
21 lbs? That's redonculous. I think it would be better if fighters just showed up to fight and didn't play the weight cut game. When you see 2 guys fighting at "185", you really don't know their true weights.. it could be 210 vs 205. They should weight in as they enter the octagon.
Unless you plan on making your natural weight 185, it's physically impossible to do that, both for the UFC and the fighters.
Because if you cut weight and then fought immediately without being given time to get the water back or rest, you'd be exhausted and wouldn't last a round.
Plus every single fighter would have to move up a weight class. GSP would fight at his natural weight of 185, BJ would always fight 170, Rumble would fight at 205, all of the 205'ers would be Heavyweights and 90% of the Heavyweights wouldn't be allowed to fight, because they're over 265.
So I understand the idea and the goal, but it just wouldn't work. Plus there's just as many disadvantages as advantages. When you cut the weight you take the risk of being de hydrated and not prepaired, but you also benefit with a size and weight advantage.
At the end of the day the current system balances itself out. If Chris Leben had to lose 21 pounds in 24 hours, then he's an idiot and obviously didn't train and diet properly.
Would be great to have weigh in 1 hour before the event, of course it would mean that pretty much all fighters would go up a weight class.
I don't think you get the point Fontez
and 90% of heavyweights weighting more than 265?
tell me 3 fighters that have to cut to make 265
not even overeem gets to 265
They would not have to make their natural weight exactly 185. If guys had to weigh in like Fontez is suggesting, you would see a lot of guys weighing in at like 180 or 182.
The way it is right now it's not like the fighters step into the octagon at the same weight. Chael Sonnen said after his fight with Marquardt that he stepped into the cage at 207 - an incredible 22 pounds more than he weighed in at. Marquardt probably only stepped into the octagon at 195-200. Either way, someone is going to have a slight advantage every time.
If this system was adopted, the weight classes would probably have to move up 15 pounds to reflect the size these guys actually are... Maybe 220 for LHW, 200 for MW, 185 for WW, 170 for LW, etc.
Yeah that's a lot of weight to drop so fast. I was wondering why leben looked gassed
Buddy really ought to get his training game in order....hes a professional now.
why did he have to make such a big cut and was not prepared.
He looked positively gaunt in the pre-fight pics. I lost 6 pounds in a marathon last year and literally couldn't run after mile 16. It was hard even to walk. How could he even think of fighting.
Really? I routinely lose 5 lbs just training and never even notice aside from normal fatigue and that's starting out at 135. Did you see your doctor to make sure everything was normal?
I would love to hear the comment behind this weak.
honestly.. i love chris leben but whats up with the excuses when he loses? like when he lost to stann they said " oh he was sick" and now this... common now
Nothing, NOTHING compared to the absolute whiney "I lost cause other guy sux" rant Mitrion rambled on during Ariel's show Monday. Absolutely an insult to Munoz. Ariel sux in my opinion- he's turning into a star struck little girl with these guys.
Meant Check, not Munoz.
Video of his weight cut.
http://www.mmashare1.com/serious-mma-videos-f35/ufc-138-chris-leben-video-blog-part-4-cutting-weig-t47860.html
Out of all the crazy stuff I watch fighters go through in training, this always strikes me as the absolutely most unhealthy practice. When I was in the army, it was constantly being drilled into our heads: hydrate, hydrate, hydrate. Got a big run tomorrow? Drink water tonight. Got a 15 mile ruck march in the morning? Drink water tonight and fill your canteens/camel back. I don't sweat all that much in general, but after mile ten with 50+ pounds on my back in North Carolina heat, my boots would be white from the salt in my sweat flowing out of me. I felt like I couldn't drink enough water. To purposely dehydrate ones self like that is so counter intuitive and unhealthy. Daniel Cormier is a heavy weight because he cant cut weight anymore. His own words. I dont really know what any alternative to this might be, but I for one am tired of seeing desiccated fighters gassing out because they drained their bodies of essential fluids a day before they had to compete.
This explains everything,otherwise Chris woulda murdered that chump of Munoz!!!!!!!
F*ck OFF ^
I told you he did not look right from the get go.... now we know why.
I agree , he didnt look right , slow and reaching for gas he didnt have. regardless, this is the price they pay to be bigger then the next guy in cage.
Weight cutting is a poor excuse for a fighters performance. It's right up there with gassing too quick.