Chris Leben is referee at Liddell vs Ortiz event

[TGArthur]

I'm still waiting for him to send Anderson Silva back to pride

 

[Dead Kennedy]

Wish more former fighters became refs. Triggs another...

 

[Dirge]

that's crazy

the guy is brain dead

Except he has probably forgotten more about MMA than the current knowledge pool of all MMA refs (outside of Big John) combined

 

[peterparker66]

Looks like he is channeling his inner Chuck for the even as he has that look in his eye for sure .

 

[mkess101]

Great news. I heard the guy used to be a huge alcoholic.

Oh yeah. By all counts he's completely righted the ship. Sober for a long time.

He had a heart condition (I'd imagine possibly due to how badly he treated his body) where his heart was only operating at like 18% of what it should. I guess one Dr. said he would need a transplant. He got a 2nd opinion and that Dr. said he thought a lot of the damage could be undone by lifestyle changes and supplements. So I guess he started taking all these spices and stuff (cayenne pepper and all sorts of others) and the 2nd Dr. was right. His heart healed itself and evidently is operating at close to full capacity. That's why he got cleared to fight in that bareknuckle thing.

He's coaching too. I'm glad to see he figured things out before it was too late.

 

[Huligani]

Most zombie like moment in all of MMA.

 

[Frank Edgar]

Good for him. Hope he does well so he can have a steady post-fighting job

 

[JabToucher]

Good to see Trigg is doing all right. I remember he was on that shitty reality TV programme, whoring himself out to that old bird who thinks she still has it.

 

[MMA Maine-iac]

What makes a better ref than a former fighter?

 

[TidWell]

Leben reminds me of Bonk or Bam Bam, this guys chin is insane and he has heavy bones dude is born with a chin and heavy hands, usually guys with heavy hands have glass chins, Leben is a freak he had heavy hands and an iron chin he is up there with George Forman another guy with heavy hands and can take a punch

 

[BubbaH]

That left hand has kryptonite in it.

 

[MMA__Analyst]

 

[yekmurat]

What makes a better ref than a former fighter?

Nobody absolutely

 

[Deleted member 510653]

Leben reminds me of Bonk or Bam Bam, this guys chin is insane and he has heavy bones dude is born with a chin and heavy hands, usually guys with heavy hands have glass chins, Leben is a freak he had heavy hands and an iron chin he is up there with George Forman another guy with heavy hands and can take a punch

He reminds you of Bryan Barbarena?

 

[Trifick]

Chris leben was my first favorite fighter. Got me into the sport. He can do whatever the f he wants

 

[See O]

People seriously have a problem with Chris leben reffing? Why?..

 

[West Linn]

Good for him. Good to see him being active. I always worry about fighters who have taken as much damage as he has. Nice to see him be involved with the sport and still have some sort of livelihood and outlet.

 

[Deleted member 148994]

Leben is a family man these days. Sounded normal in his pre and post fight for his Bare Knuckle a few weeks back. Was repping a recovery facility post fight.

 

[mkess101]

People seriously have a problem with Chris leben reffing? Why?..

People (well, some anyway) remember him as the guy from TUF 1 that was out of control. Pissed on Thatcher's bed. Drunk all the time (which was straight up alcoholism and not just a young guy who liked to drink). Talked about "coming into the cage smelling like strippers and booze and still putting the stamp on kids".

They haven't seen him lately so they don't realize that old version of him is gone. He's now happily married, coaching, writing books, etc. He's just not the goon he was when he was younger.

 

[BertStayre]

Great news. I heard the guy used to be a huge alcoholic.

I always loved the dude but he used to be a huge everything lol