UFC 116 Preview: Chris Leben and Yoshihiro Akiyama Are Not Showing Much Mutual Respect
by Nate Wilcox on Jul 1, 2010 5:00 PM EDT
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Bottom line is he signed with the UFC. He signed to fight on this card. His opponent got hurt. Opponents get hurt. His job is to get in there and mix it up. For him to say I'm not a worthy opponent kind of throws me. I've got ten wins in the UFC. He's got one UFC win over Alan Belcher by split decision. I don't think that qualifies him to say that I'm not qualified to face him.
...
The more I thought about, it became clear, I am a fighter. This is what I do," Leben said. "I've got a limited window of time in this sport. I kind of killed two birds with one stone, two fights, one training camp. And this is a huge-profile fight.
Chris Leben talking to MMA Fighting.
"I'm very familiar with Chris' popularity in the States, but compared to Wanderlei overseas, [Wanderlei] is a much more bigger name in Korea and Japan," he said through an interpreter. "For me, to improve the popularity of MMA in Japan is one of my goals as well, and to do that, that's a lesser name. That's where I stood."
Akiyama and his supporters, though, disagreed (with Leben about taking the fight). He had long planned to have a large group of friends and family accompany him to the Silva fight. A bout with Leben didn't seem to capture their imaginations in the same way. And while Akiyama said that while his loved ones urged him to make his own decision, "they all kind of said you should withdraw from the fight."
"It was a 50/50 decision," he said. "It just got to a point where I'm not going to do it for myself, but for the fans and everybody else. So that's how I decided to take the fight."
Yoshihiro Akiyama talking to MMA Fighting.
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This would have made more sense if I hadn’t seen them during the press conference. They looked pretty respectable of each other there. I’m sure Akiyama isn’t happy about the situation; but other than that, they seemed like they were past it. Bowing and shaking hands and all that to each other like sportsmen.
Akiyama is Japanese, and Leben is fighting out of Hawaii. I’m hoping for some bombs.
I want Kim Winslow or Tan Dan to ref Tito Ortiz' next fight.
by MMAInFeRioRiTy on Jul 1, 2010 5:06 PM EDT reply actions 6 recs
Is that you Kimbo? Japan is not a city in Korea.
"We are entering the last phases of the Farewell Fedor tour, and I, for one, am looking forward to the future." - subo -
He is a fourth-generation Zainichi Korean (An ethnic Korean residing in Japan) and acquired Japanese nationality in 2001.
I want Kim Winslow or Tan Dan to ref Tito Ortiz' next fight.
by MMAInFeRioRiTy on Jul 1, 2010 5:32 PM EDT up reply actions
I like your style
"We are entering the last phases of the Farewell Fedor tour, and I, for one, am looking forward to the future." - subo -
I like your moves.
"Someone is WRONG on the internet. What do you want me to do? LEAVE? Then they'll keep being wrong!"
-Randall Munroe
by pdl on Jul 1, 2010 5:34 PM EDT up reply actions
ethnic korean residing in japan eh? does that ensure he’s hated by the Koreans and the Japanese?
by kanodogg on Jul 1, 2010 8:25 PM EDT via mobile up reply actions
actually
maybe… japanese people still hold prejudice against korean descendants (especially when they are involved in cheating scandals) who have been living in japan for generations. I don’t think the Koreans have anything against him.
by cagefightonacid on Jul 2, 2010 11:59 AM EDT via mobile up reply actions
By bombs do you really mean “kamikazes”?
by MikeD32 on Jul 1, 2010 5:35 PM EDT via mobile up reply actions
I meant nuclear bombs, but, sure, kamikazes work too. Maybe you could call that superman punch Akiyama used on Belcher his kamikaze move.
I want Kim Winslow or Tan Dan to ref Tito Ortiz' next fight.
by MMAInFeRioRiTy on Jul 1, 2010 5:37 PM EDT up reply actions
Or maybe it was the other way around. Belcher did it. Maybe they both did it. Belcher did the cooler one using the fence.
I want Kim Winslow or Tan Dan to ref Tito Ortiz' next fight.
by MMAInFeRioRiTy on Jul 1, 2010 5:38 PM EDT up reply actions
He has to double the efforts of cool with that Otho tribute tattoo on his arm.
"We are entering the last phases of the Farewell Fedor tour, and I, for one, am looking forward to the future." - subo -
Is that a Beetlejuice reference? Obscure but appreciated.
I want Kim Winslow or Tan Dan to ref Tito Ortiz' next fight.
by MMAInFeRioRiTy on Jul 1, 2010 5:45 PM EDT up reply actions
He’s just burt hurt that he doesnt get to fight Silva who is at the end if his career, and now has to fight someone who will probably beat his ass back to Japan.
I’m going to start saying “burt hurt” too.
by bigstupidsmile on Jul 1, 2010 5:07 PM EDT up reply actions 4 recs
The term butt hurt is just as annoying as FAIL, cry more noob, and epic win. Can we please stop using these terms? PLEASE!?
by pandaboy99 on Jul 1, 2010 5:46 PM EDT up reply actions 3 recs
Go ahead and do what you like.
I’ll continue to use it just to piss of people like you.
by Jesse Taylor on Jul 1, 2010 5:48 PM EDT up reply actions 1 recs
“piss off” is the phrase you’re looking for there.
by MMAussie on Jul 1, 2010 6:05 PM EDT up reply actions 5 recs
I smirked.
When a true genius appears in the world, you may know him by this sign, that the dunces are in a confederacy against him. - Jonathan Swift
Fightlinker.com
by Derek Suboticki on Jul 1, 2010 6:06 PM EDT up reply actions
This is why they really need to add an edit option to these posts.
Having to defend spelling mistakes from 12 year old honor students gets tiresome fast at this website.
So you are tapping to the 12 year old honor students?
"We are entering the last phases of the Farewell Fedor tour, and I, for one, am looking forward to the future." - subo -
IT'S IN DEEP
Cause there's only one, and that's me
You understand? for all that fighting, you understand
That sucka think he good, that sucka think he can whoop me
And i know he can't whoop me, Ay boy, the n**** whole style is chump
by S.C. Michaelson on Jul 1, 2010 6:28 PM EDT up reply actions
WERDUM
WERDUM
Cause there's only one, and that's me
You understand? for all that fighting, you understand
That sucka think he good, that sucka think he can whoop me
And i know he can't whoop me, Ay boy, the n**** whole style is chump
by S.C. Michaelson on Jul 1, 2010 6:28 PM EDT up reply actions
Doing something that isn’t funny until it is funny takes dedication.
Bolts from the Blue // "He looks like a catfish" - Nick Hardwick on Brandon Siler
Bloody Elbow // " looks like your comment violated rule #4. and it’s a heck of a rule, rule #4" - Kid Nate
What an epic fail! Only something a crybaby noob would do. Don’t get too butt hurt noob.
I get more rec's then a Toyota!
by DayGeaux on Jul 1, 2010 6:02 PM EDT up reply actions 1 recs
cry more noob you burt hurt ernie hugger
"We are entering the last phases of the Farewell Fedor tour, and I, for one, am looking forward to the future." - subo -
by Bob Boblaw on Jul 1, 2010 6:04 PM EDT up reply actions 5 recs
Ernie that will leave cookie crumbs in the sheets after he’s doing making Burt hurt.
"We are entering the last phases of the Farewell Fedor tour, and I, for one, am looking forward to the future." - subo -
by Bob Boblaw on Jul 1, 2010 6:15 PM EDT up reply actions 5 recs
done not doing. I’m the 12 year old not on the honor roll
"We are entering the last phases of the Farewell Fedor tour, and I, for one, am looking forward to the future." - subo -
by Bob Boblaw on Jul 1, 2010 6:18 PM EDT up reply actions 4 recs
"No, your going to be ‘that guy’ who points out peoples spelling mistakes on the interwebs."
Yes, it’s what I do for a living.
“YOU’RE”
by bigstupidsmile on Jul 1, 2010 6:42 PM EDT up reply actions
Oh gosh, redundant and an asshole, my apologies, I didn’t see the comment preceding the one that precedes this….
by bigstupidsmile on Jul 1, 2010 6:44 PM EDT up reply actions
I wonder how many people would be predicting a Leben victory if Akiyama had been slated to face him from the start. I suspect that people’s frustrations with Akiyama are coloring their perception of the fight.
by JRN on Jul 1, 2010 5:11 PM EDT up reply actions 3 recs
I don’t think anyone would be wrong to put a little money on Leben. It’s a winnable fight for him, especially if Akiyama decides to brawl, and the betting odds are probably good. But a smart Akiyama takes this one more often than not.
by JRN on Jul 1, 2010 5:44 PM EDT up reply actions
I dont really like either of them to tell you the truth. Leben has the personality of a nat. And frankly I dont even know who the hell Akiyama is, other than some dude crying about who he has to fight next.
Man up, or sail back home.
Did you read the post? Akiyama already took the fight. Er, sorry—he “manned up.” So you can rest easy.
by JRN on Jul 1, 2010 5:56 PM EDT up reply actions
I'd put small money on Leben at +225 or better.
His chin, heart, and punching power is bad for anybody, and I think he has the one punch power that could have won Belcher the first fight. Smart choice is Akiyama, but Leben, Cote, and Scott Smith are never to be counted out of any fight.
"Someone is WRONG on the internet. What do you want me to do? LEAVE? Then they'll keep being wrong!"
-Randall Munroe
by pdl on Jul 1, 2010 5:50 PM EDT up reply actions
Well, should be interesting to see how the fight turns out nonetheless.
Kind of hard to disagree with Akiyama’s sentiment. Leben’s a lesser name to settle for when you were booked against Wanderlei, but injuries happen, and Leben was what was available. If he’s trying to increase his profile, withdrawing from a fight with Leben doesn’t help him at all. I also think maybe he wasn’t too keen on having to face a different opponent on short notice when he probably specifically trained for another.
I can see where Akiyama is coming from, this is a huge change at the last minute but he’s been in the UFC for a year now and has only fought once (his fight with Belcher was 7-11-09), sitting on the sidelines and becoming a MMA internet meme isn’t really helping the popularity of the sport in Japan either. I think for all of us it sucks that Wanderlei is injured too but dang fighters are supposed to fight.
Akiyama is fighting. This whole “maybe I won’t take the fight” thing lasted less than 12 hours.
by JRN on Jul 1, 2010 5:29 PM EDT up reply actions
He just didn't want piss on his pillow.
"Someone is WRONG on the internet. What do you want me to do? LEAVE? Then they'll keep being wrong!"
-Randall Munroe
by pdl on Jul 1, 2010 5:10 PM EDT up reply actions
This is what Leben should have said FTW
“He should go back to Japan where the competition is easier.”
Leben's game plan
probably involves rough necking him
Hooray for Leben
Don’t let a guy that’s 1-0 in the UFC tell you you’re not a worthy opponent.
When a true genius appears in the world, you may know him by this sign, that the dunces are in a confederacy against him. - Jonathan Swift
Fightlinker.com
I don’t think he actually said that. He said he was hoping for a high-profile opponent, and Leben really isn’t. Is that disrespectful? It’s true, at least.
by JRN on Jul 1, 2010 5:21 PM EDT up reply actions
his opponent got hurt
and leben did him a favour by stepping up so u should have said: thank u mr.leben
That’s nice. I’m talking about what he did say, not what he should have.
by JRN on Jul 1, 2010 6:50 PM EDT up reply actions
I'm givin Leben the edge here now
It’s like akiyama has no heart to actually fight in this fight. Is he going to have the tenacity to fight through a knock down?
we're seeking articulate and thoughtful you are neither.
Follow me on Twitter @KidNate
by Kid Nate on Jun 15, 2010 3:47 PM CDT
Kid Hate layin it down
by II SMASH II on Jul 1, 2010 5:19 PM EDT via mobile reply actions
your sig is creepy
Inhale deep, like the words of my breath—I never sleep, cause sleep is the cousin of death
Why exactly?
we're seeking articulate and thoughtful you are neither.
Follow me on Twitter @KidNate
by Kid Nate on Jun 15, 2010 3:47 PM CDT
Kid Hate layin it down
Anybody wanna take a sig bet on Leben? Akiyama wins this in the first.
by ufc4 on Jul 1, 2010 5:26 PM EDT via mobile up reply actions
Let’s dance
"We are entering the last phases of the Farewell Fedor tour, and I, for one, am looking forward to the future." - subo -
Ill take you up on it
O.P. Vs K.C. Style
we're seeking articulate and thoughtful you are neither.
Follow me on Twitter @KidNate
by Kid Nate on Jun 15, 2010 3:47 PM CDT
Kid Hate layin it down
by II SMASH II on Jul 1, 2010 5:32 PM EDT via mobile up reply actions
And a sig bet with you ya stuck up Johnson county prick. :)
by ufc4 on Jul 1, 2010 10:54 PM EDT via mobile up reply actions
lol don't hate
Whats the terms my friend
we're seeking articulate and thoughtful you are neither.
Follow me on Twitter @KidNate
by Kid Nate on Jun 15, 2010 3:47 PM CDT
Kid Hate layin it down
:)
Okay, if Leben wins you have to rock something embarrassing to be determined later by someone meaner than me. And if Akiyama wins I’ll hide this comment and ban you.
Bolts from the Blue // "He looks like a catfish" - Nick Hardwick on Brandon Siler
Bloody Elbow // " looks like your comment violated rule #4. and it’s a heck of a rule, rule #4" - Kid Nate
by Richard Wade on Jul 1, 2010 9:38 PM EDT up reply actions 1 recs
Dat’s pretty brutal.
When a true genius appears in the world, you may know him by this sign, that the dunces are in a confederacy against him. - Jonathan Swift
Fightlinker.com
by Derek Suboticki on Jul 1, 2010 10:09 PM EDT up reply actions
“Okay, if Leben wins you have to rock something embarrassing to be determined later by someone meaner than me”
Like changing my screen name to Richard Wade? :)
by ufc4 on Jul 1, 2010 10:52 PM EDT via mobile up reply actions
"He should go back to Japan where the competition is easier."
Then sexy would have said. “At least im not an alcoholic and a drugs cheat”
Then sexiyama would have said, “fatherless bastard.”
That would have been something.
'Ello G'vnor!
by IHateMMA on Jul 1, 2010 5:36 PM EDT up reply actions 2 recs
"fatherless bastard" would've had me rolling
Inhale deep, like the words of my breath—I never sleep, cause sleep is the cousin of death
Leben has chunks of guys like this in his stool!
by Kwisatz Haderach on Jul 1, 2010 5:53 PM EDT reply actions
Leben has chunks of Sexy in his stool? I thought he moved to Hawaii not the Pearl District.
"We are entering the last phases of the Farewell Fedor tour, and I, for one, am looking forward to the future." - subo -
by Bob Boblaw on Jul 1, 2010 5:57 PM EDT up reply actions 4 recs
PDX area?
"We are entering the last phases of the Farewell Fedor tour, and I, for one, am looking forward to the future." - subo -
You ain’t gonna like it when I’m roughnecking you, eating your shots and blasting you back in the face…
by Kwisatz Haderach on Jul 2, 2010 4:16 PM EDT up reply actions
dirty
"We are entering the last phases of the Farewell Fedor tour, and I, for one, am looking forward to the future." - subo -
Upon watching the Leben /simpson fight again...
Leben is slower than molasses and his strike accuracy was pretty bad. He worked Simpson with pure experience and toughness. Im not entirely sure that will get him past Akiyama or anyone else higher up in the middle weight division…
this ufc
It couldn’t be a ufc fight without the fighters hating eachother right.
This weeks headliner- shane carwin doesn’t think much of brock and his attitude.
And chris leben doesn’t like akiyama. No, he HATES akiyama.
Now buy the damb thing will ya??
No they couldn’t just have a ufc show where the opponents have a mutual respect for eachother and their abilities.
What am I saying?? Ufc is not martial arts, doesn’t stand for the values of what martial arts is all about. And bruce lee would NOT be a fan of this ufc. That’s a gaurantee.
by PipRocks on Jul 1, 2010 6:18 PM EDT via mobile reply actions
Type more.
That is fucking funny
"We are entering the last phases of the Farewell Fedor tour, and I, for one, am looking forward to the future." - subo -
i got a joke for ya
Brock lesnar is considered the #1 heavyweight martial artist in the world.
How fucking funny is that?? What a joke.
by PipRocks on Jul 1, 2010 6:48 PM EDT via mobile up reply actions
No he's not
Soon to be considered #1 Heavyweight MIXED martial artist.
One more ill-informed post by the one and only piprocks
Are you saying mixed martial artists are NOT martial artists? That’s your position?
Ricky Hatton came closer to beating Manny Pacquiao than Marquez did to beating Floyd.
-SC
by The Lethal Haze on Jul 2, 2010 12:50 AM EDT up reply actions
I think the point is that Mixed Martial Artist aren’t all Martial Artist, MMA fighters are just a subset of Martial Artist. Just because a guy may become the number one heavyweight Mixed Martial Artist doesn’t mean he’s the number one heavyweight Martial Artist. Do you actually think Brock Lesnar is the number one Martial Artist in the world?
couldn't have said it better myself, who me
I’m saying there is a difference between mixed martial arts and martial arts. In a pure wrestling match Lesnar probably beats any other HW, in a straight kickboxing fight, Lesnar probably loses to more than a handful of heavies, thus not making him the best heavy in the art of kickboxing. Against those same opponents in an MMA fight, Lesnar probably wins, thus being the #1 HW MIXED martial artist, but not the #1 HW in all types of martial arts. Understand my position now Lethal Haze(I can try to explain it a little more simply for you if you’d like)
Against those same opponents in an MMA fight, Lesnar probably wins, thus being the #1 HW MIXED martial artist, but not the #1 HW in all types of martial arts.
According to this logic, could anyone ever be declared the best martial artist? Can you give a short list of who you think is in the running for top martial artist? Top 3 would be nice, so I can see what you’re talking about.
Ricky Hatton came closer to beating Manny Pacquiao than Marquez did to beating Floyd.
-SC
by The Lethal Haze on Jul 3, 2010 2:16 PM EDT up reply actions
think the point is that Mixed Martial Artist aren’t all Martial Artist, MMA fighters are just a subset of Martial Artist.
If MMA fighters are a subset of Martial Artists, then yes, all MMA fighters are martial artists by your own definition.
Do you actually think Brock Lesnar is the number one Martial Artist in the world?
So then your position is that (american) wrestling is not a martial art? What about Sumo wrestling? Tajiquan? What about Judo and BJJ? Whats special about freestyle wrestling that you don’t consider it a martial art?
Ricky Hatton came closer to beating Manny Pacquiao than Marquez did to beating Floyd.
-SC
by The Lethal Haze on Jul 3, 2010 2:04 PM EDT up reply actions
I understand what your saying...
And I’ll freely admit that I am not up to par on the names of the best individual martial artists. I don’t know who the best strictly JJ guys are in the world, or best kickboxers or best wrestlers, but in a MMA fight Lesnar has proven to be the best HW right now. That does not mean, in a freestyle wrestling match he beats everyone in the world. It does mean, in my opinion, he is the best HW MMA fighter whose base happens to be wrestling. I believe you can be the best MMA fighter in your respective weight class, without being a world class martial artist in a specific art. What is AS the best at, except being great at everything? He is solid in every aspect of the game, but not considered the best at any art.
I don’t understand where what I wrote can be interpreted that the best at a specific martial art can not be the best MMA fighter. Say James Toney runs through the HW division, I’d consider him the best HW MMA fighter, and the best boxer, which is a martial art, in the HW division(I know, will never happen, but just using someone that is clearly the best at one of the arts that I would consider the best MMA guy were he to wipe out a division) . Maybe a better example, and more realistic would be if Maia ran through the MW division, best JJ guy who I’d also then consider the best MW MMA fighter.
I don’t know if I’m giving you the answers you are looking for, but I’m trying(not the best at putting my thoughts into words). Also, I apologize for coming off as a dick with my last statement/question to you, my kids were pissing me off at the time and I took it out on you.
If somehow you end up reading this reply
No worries man, just trying to discuss some MMA :)
Ricky Hatton came closer to beating Manny Pacquiao than Marquez did to beating Floyd.
-SC
by The Lethal Haze on Jul 7, 2010 12:23 AM EDT up reply actions
I'm gonna bite
Outside of Brock/Mir 2,and a couple others, please tell me when, after a fight and when not trying to sell PPV’s to casual fans, fighters have not respected each other after the fight? Shamrock/Ortiz check, Page/Suga check, Hughes/ Serra check, & even BJ and GSP showed respect. Pip why do you do what you do, why waste your energy? You gain nothing, if anything you lose any respect people possible could’ve had for your commenting.
On a side note, speaking of all this fighter hate, isn’t your comment, really all your comments, a little of pot calling kettle black, what with all the hate you spew.
Did you channel the spirit of the dragon?
(BTW, pip, this is your old friend from MMA fighting, pipscome2be)
Sorry, BE for my handle at mmafighting, respect this site a lot, and was hoping community here would be able to help pippy gain a proper pespective.
So you vouch for this friend of yours?
"We are entering the last phases of the Farewell Fedor tour, and I, for one, am looking forward to the future." - subo -
absolutely not
Old friend should not have been taken literally. I would just get caught up in his posts sometimes and rebut and refute everything he’d say. I’m shocked he’s actually at BE and posting, as he said BE is a bunch of elitists who ban anyone and everyone for nothing.
Well he's right about one thing
"We are entering the last phases of the Farewell Fedor tour, and I, for one, am looking forward to the future." - subo -
People are actually giving Leben a chance?
Akiyama is a terrible match up for Leben at the best of times.
But Leben’s had a two week layoff. A TWO WEEK LAYOFF!
Sorry, but no way, no how Leben is winning this thing.
Akiyama has had a year layoff. One year vs. two weeks of ring rust.
I want Kim Winslow or Tan Dan to ref Tito Ortiz' next fight.
by MMAInFeRioRiTy on Jul 1, 2010 7:56 PM EDT up reply actions
and being well-rested and injury free is better than being banged up and sore because?
Plus, I’d give this fight to Akiyama based on styles alone.
Akiyama can beat Leben on the feet following the Bisping format, and probably better than Bisping did.
Akiyama can also take him down, get position, and pound him out.
I don’t see how Leben can take this.
Neither had a year layoff.
I want Kim Winslow or Tan Dan to ref Tito Ortiz' next fight.
by MMAInFeRioRiTy on Jul 2, 2010 9:21 AM EDT up reply actions
Nevermind. Grispi did once.
I want Kim Winslow or Tan Dan to ref Tito Ortiz' next fight.
by MMAInFeRioRiTy on Jul 2, 2010 9:22 AM EDT up reply actions
Company man
Smartest move of Leben’s career. He said that he wants to be in the UFC as long as possible, do whatever they ask him to do, be a “company man”(his words not mine) Even if he loses, he is still in the UFC’s good graces. He knows he will never contend for a title, but he is doing what he thinks is best for him and his family. My hats off to him for being a realist and having the balls to say what he said.
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