Rewatch UFC 132 Wanderlei Silva vs Chris Leben

[cws80us]

Yeah that was a sad outcome for sure. Wand just walked straight forward with his chin up winging punches, got caught by a heavy shot and dropped like a rock. Really low fight IQ. You hate to see a legend get beaten like that by a journeyman.

 

[VinceArch]

Wands chin was never the best. He had mad recovery though. But he got dropped by the likes of Tito Ortiz. He'd almost always shoot right up. But its gonna be harder to recover from Leben.

Wanderlei was already way past it by the time he fought Leben anyway. I made money off this fight and it's one of the few fights where I wish I was wrong.

 

[Bob Gray]

Wanderlei was already way past it by the time he fought Leben anyway. I made money off this fight and it's one of the few fights where I wish I was wrong.

Yeah, but like I said, Leben would always be a rough match up for Wand. Just a style thing. Rampage has a similar chin and good power, but he wasnt a brawler. He'd rather pick his shots as opposed to Leben who'd prefer every match be D-Day, and Wand would be pretty likely to accommodate.

 

[rerun406]

This was the same day Tito guillotine choked Bader. Such a wild night.

SAME card I believe. Also Condit finished Dong-Hyun quickly


**I remember a friend joined me at the bar and MISSED the first two Main Card fights because they ended quickly

what else I remember -

Matt Wiman lost to Siver by decision

and in the main event Cruz beat Faber by decision

 

[Lord Pyjamas]

Im trying to forget that this dude makes threads sir lol

I don't know about that!
Dude accidentally brings some interesting stuff in after all.
Lebens foot work was really on point for that fight and that is not how I remembered it.

 

[Danespina]

**I remember a friend joined me at the bar and MISSED the first two Main Card fights because they ended quickly

Ouch. I had a friend walk out of the bathroom to a bar that was going absolutely ape-shit crazy. Masvidal had just flying kneed Askren.

 

[StonedLemur]

Ouch. I had a friend walk out of the bathroom to a bar that was going absolutely ape-shit crazy. Masvidal had just flying kneed Askren.

My older brother missed Mike Tyson KOing Spinks while taking a piss.
All his friends were there and me going crazy.

My older brother is a cunt though so fuck em lol.

 

['Rocky']

I’m trying to forget about the fact that Wanderlei lost to Leben….

Trying to forget things on September 11th is impossible.

 

[Langinbang187]

Wands chin was never the best. He had mad recovery though. But he got dropped by the likes of Tito Ortiz. He'd almost always shoot right up. But its gonna be harder to recover from Leben.

Eh the Tito drop was more like he ran right into a punch rushing forward and face planted off balance, he didn't seem genuinely hurt.

I do agree his chin was never top notch, but it was certainly on the decline, especially at 185 where he was relatively drained. Even a shot Wandy was better than Leben, he just fought absolutely foolishly and showed zero respect for Leben's power.

He ate some bombs from Stann later at 205 who was a much, much better striker than Leben that would've left him snoring at 185.

 

[DoctorTaco]

He's doing okay. Had some issues with drugs for a little while.

Ended up in the hospital a few years during the covid days because of a health scare, I think vaccine but not sure.

He's good now though and runs a school with a bunch of students, speaks at events and stuff for people to get off drugs. Good dude.

Happy to hear that. I coach in Portland and there are still a handful of guys around with direct, first hand leben stories. There are some wild ones.

 

[WoozyFailGuy]

Remember that fight well. Leben has a granite chin and heavy hands. His KO of Terry Martin was another crazy fight. Leben fought a long time and took a ton of damage; hope is is doing alright.

He's a referee now iirc

 

[TheOnlyGreatest]

Satisfying fight for me. I remember this forum acting like Leben had absolutely no shot of beating Wand.

 

[cade187]

Leben vs Akiyama was nuts too. There was a small period if time where Leben looked like he might become something serious in the MW division. If I recall correctly, Brian Stann ended that.

His fight with Anderson was supposed to set him up for a title shot, and then Anderson put on a flawless victory performance. The rest is legend.

 

[YesForGayJesus]

Wands chin was never the best. He had mad recovery though. But he got dropped by the likes of Tito Ortiz. He'd almost always shoot right up. But its gonna be harder to recover from Leben.

It's funny, I just watched the first Sakuraba fight and he gets dropped in the first 30 seconds but pops right back up and secures the clinch. The same thing happens in the Oyama fight too. But you're right, there's not a lot of margin for error when Leben catches you flush with an uppercut.

 

[Dr. Rose]

Eh the Tito drop was more like he ran right into a punch rushing forward and face planted off balance, he didn't seem genuinely hurt.

I do agree his chin was never top notch, but it was certainly on the decline, especially at 185 where he was relatively drained. Even a shot Wandy was better than Leben, he just fought absolutely foolishly and showed zero respect for Leben's power.

He ate some bombs from Stann later at 205 who was a much, much better striker than Leben that would've left him snoring at 185.

Also from Chuck like a year earlier.

 

[daniel san]

Wow, as a big Wand fan, it really sucked watching that fight when it happened. Now, looking back at Wand's career, he beat up mostly a bunch of cans and Rampage. Would probably have beaten Leben if he didn't have a glass chin after getting KTFO by Crocop.

 

[Bob Gray]

Eh the Tito drop was more like he ran right into a punch rushing forward and face planted off balance, he didn't seem genuinely hurt.

I do agree his chin was never top notch, but it was certainly on the decline, especially at 185 where he was relatively drained. Even a shot Wandy was better than Leben, he just fought absolutely foolishly and showed zero respect for Leben's power.

He ate some bombs from Stann later at 205 who was a much, much better striker than Leben that would've left him snoring at 185.

See, I totally agree that Wand is better than Leben, I just think he'd also lose to him a lot more than skill against skill would dictate. Just one of those things.

 

[HavokHarmon]

Remember that fight well. Leben has a granite chin and heavy hands. His KO of Terry Martin was another crazy fight. Leben fought a long time and took a ton of damage; hope is is doing alright.

Dude could come in smelling like strippers and booze and still put the stamp on cats.

 

[Uber_Noober]

The better chin won that night, you knew going in it was going to be a beserker in a phone booth fight. At that stage of the game Wand’s chin was already cracked.

 

[Lee Danger]

See, I totally agree that Wand is better than Leben, I just think he'd also lose to him a lot more than skill against skill would dictate. Just one of those things.

Even when he was reigning in pride he was probably one of the most flawed top fighters of that time, chin up and short arm-hooks; he compensated with aggression and the clinch thai game.
i've never understood how none in all those years tried to correct his boxing.