Late Night Fights: Chris Leben vs. Joe Doerksen
by Brent Brookhouse on Jul 12, 2010 11:00 PM EDT
in MMA History
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PrintI was in the mood to do another edition of Late Night Fights but couldn't decide on a fighter to focus on, then Jonathan Snowden suggested Chris Leben and specifically his fight with Joe Doerksen.
To put things into context, at this point in his career Leben was 9-0 and had won the first ever WEC middleweight championship two fights before entering the ring against his toughest opponent to date in Doerksen. Joe was 26-5 at this point and had fought a long list of name fighters. What followed when the two met is a hell of a fight:
It's a really good fight that allows you to see all of Leben's faults and all of what he does right all in one bout. Share your thoughts on it in the comments.
I'm going to keep sneaking in boxing videos when I see fit since I...well, I just want to. My favorite boxing match of all time is the first fight between Diego Corrales vs. Jose Luis Castillo. Here's a pretty solid highlight video (although you can watch the fight in full starting with the first round here) that shows what a great fight it was. I seriously suggest anyone that loves fighting give it a watch:
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In before the bozos point out this is an MMA blog and blahblahblah
The Leben/Doerksen fight was a great fight, but Castillo/Corrales is a classic, at least in my eyes. This is going to turn into one of my favorite pieces on Bloodyelbow.
Follow me on twitter @thisredengine
Also please check out SBnation's Red Bulls blog @ www.onceametro.com
I can’t understand why MMA fans are so hostile to boxing. Well, yea I can, because of the words slung back and forth between figureheads to disparage the respective sports, but seriously…how the fuck can you praise the efforts of Garcia/Jung, Bonnar/Griffin, or Manhoef/Cyborg and not appreciate the violent grace of a Castillo/Corrales, Marquez/Vasquez (take your pick), or Morales/Barrera (again, take your pick*)?
*Minus the 2nd fight, which wasn’t bad at all. The 3rd fight was personally my favorite.
by David Castillo on Jul 13, 2010 1:52 AM EDT up reply actions
My opinion of the boxing vs. mma debate is that
It comes down to it being cool to hate on the other sport, at least on the MMA side. I also have a theory that a lot of hardcore MMA fans aren’t actually sports fans, just like MMA and feel part of an exclusive club when they can name drop Japanese fighters/organizations and they can’t do that with the NFL/NBA/MLB/NHL, much like how soccer fans are completely elitist about EPL/La Liga/Seria A.
Follow me on twitter @thisredengine
Also please check out SBnation's Red Bulls blog @ www.onceametro.com
by Matthew Roth on Jul 13, 2010 2:06 AM EDT up reply actions
While that’s largely true, it’s the irony of MMA fans who claim to love a particular aspect of the sport (like the standup), yet can’t seem to get into it when presented with striking acumen on a galactically larger scale…
by David Castillo on Jul 13, 2010 2:10 AM EDT up reply actions
A lot of people that I've talked to about it
say that they just can’t get past the big gloves that boxers wear. I also believe that thisredengine is correct in his assessment of the MMA fan. Being an MMA fan right now is similar to being a fan of Metallica before the Black album. A lot of guys feel cool just being a fan of it.
Forget it Donny, you're out of your element.
i just like combat sports
I was a big boxing fan growing up, watching it with my dad & brothers, but always hoped that wrestling would be represented in some way. That’s the reason why I favor MMA over boxing. Never had any boxing lessons, but wrestled for almost 8 years which brings me to this conclusion:
Wrestling is an American institution. We have a system in schools for wrestling that boxing doesn’t have and only large cities have clubs that can interest young boxers. You go with what you like & participate in: football, basketball, baseball, those sports start in elementary and a person grows with them. While boxing has (or had) the national attention because of big TV fights, wrestling is something that any kid in America can participate in.
Who's the only one here who knows illegal ninja moves from the government?
I like both sports very much, but I rarely watch boxing these days because there are way too many “safe” fights, the politics are waaaay too ugly, and most cards are a main event with a bunch of awful filler. My beef isn’t with “boxing” as a sport, it’s with the way that boxing is controlled and conducted these days. I know what boxing is capable of delivering and think it’s a damn shame that we only rarely glimpse that potential these days. And I sincerely hope that MMA doesn’t fall into those same traps, because I’m not blind enough to believe that as a sport MMA is immune to any of it.
"I'm AJB and I endorse this nut-puncher."
I don't think there is any fighter
Who’s career more encapsulates what being a prize fighter in the early Zuffa years was like. He is more successful than most, but he has had his ups and downs, both in fighting and out. He has battled, improved, stalled, drank, cheated, fought tough, all of it. The dude even foot stomps.
"I am a man who pisses largely and frequently, which they say is a sign of great mental activity" -Henry Miller-
Leben obviously
Although I guess I didn’t really need to qualify.
"I am a man who pisses largely and frequently, which they say is a sign of great mental activity" -Henry Miller-
by Neil Manich on Jul 12, 2010 11:12 PM EDT up reply actions
I loved that fight. It was pretty cool when TUF was filled with guys people had actually SEEN before.
by Jonathan Snowden on Jul 12, 2010 11:38 PM EDT reply actions 1 recs
So much wrong with this fight.
The announcer coming on and shouting 2 minutes into each round, the ref trying to pump up the crowd. Hilarious. The color commentor was hilarious in his own right.
We’ve evolved. Thankfully.
Great fight, though, would have made both of those fighters hefty bonus checks in this ratings desperate world.
The fight itself...
is great. But yeah, seeing the ref pump up the crowd really bothers me. Because it creates a real conflict. Is he in there to make decisions in a sporting context or to satisfy the crwod. Regardless…I love the fight.
Editor - BloodyElbow.com - SBNation's mixed martial arts headquarters.
MMA Editor - SBNation.com
by Brent Brookhouse on Jul 12, 2010 11:58 PM EDT up reply actions
Doerkson takes down the Team Quest wrestler!
Unbelievable!
/facepalm
"Sometimes hype just ain't enough." - Jens Pulver on his win over BJ Penn
by lowellthehammer on Jul 13, 2010 12:07 AM EDT up reply actions
LOL
They should just mute the announcer in the leben fight and keep playing that soundtrack through out the fight, or at least the 3rd round, DAMN!
You feel that too? It's the heat coming off that man on fire who goes by the name of THE CRIPPLERRRRRR!
by MrTechnique420 on Jul 12, 2010 11:49 PM EDT reply actions
ummm
that boxing match was amazing. i have never seen any really good matches before, and i must say after watching that video i am thoroughly impressed. that was incredible.
The same
Never really got into boxing, but damn that vid was nice. That was thoroughly enthralling, made me recall I did actually watch Tyson fights as a kid and the highlight vids I’ve seen on the internet. Gonna start watching some boxing as well. Although I can’t but feel that “A knee there would wreck him” “You can’t leave yourself open for a takedown like that”
Still awesum stuffs, also nice to see older Leben fights, haven’t really ever looked into him as a fighter and watched the old fights.
can you do an early GSP fight for your next LNF
(if you have been there already can you link me Brent)
Meow? Meow?? Meow! ohhhhhh.... Meow =)
that would be a cool selection
Fan of Tiger 'Makin It Rain' Woods
by B-A-N-A-N-A-S on Jul 13, 2010 1:51 AM EDT up reply actions
the one with Thomas Denny goes almost 2 full rounds, so it would be the best selection
Fan of Tiger 'Makin It Rain' Woods
by B-A-N-A-N-A-S on Jul 13, 2010 1:53 AM EDT up reply actions
i second this idea
All of his fights in TKO are on youtube.
"Only two things are infinite, the universe and human stupidity, and I'm not sure about the former - Albert Einstein"
- Goonisis
If you do this, try the Ivan Menjivar fight.
by Jonathan Snowden on Jul 13, 2010 8:55 AM EDT up reply actions
Crazy fight
Joe talks about it in our community interview coming tomorrow if I can get my ass in gear…
by Jonathan Snowden on Jul 13, 2010 11:22 AM EDT up reply actions
Sure...
I’ll do one with 2-3 of his early fights.
Editor - BloodyElbow.com - SBNation's mixed martial arts headquarters.
MMA Editor - SBNation.com
by Brent Brookhouse on Jul 13, 2010 9:34 AM EDT up reply actions
The Menjivar fight may be too obvious since it was his debut and all, but it was a great fight showing GSP at his most raw (his takedown defense was technically sloppy, but he essentially sprawled on a guy while on his opponents shoulders).
Outside of that the Thomas Denny fight is a good one. He fought a lot like the GSP we know today, concentrating on his wrestling/grappling.
most of his early fights ended in the first round, might need a Late Night GSP Compilation!
Meow? Meow?? Meow! ohhhhhh.... Meow =)
damn
That 10th round of Corrales/Castillo was ridiculous!
follow me twitter.com/GotaHemmi
by Brian Hemminger on Jul 13, 2010 6:16 AM EDT reply actions
"14 Wins and ABSOLUTELY NO LOSSES"
I liked that shit for reals. Why didn’t that guy go somewhere as an announcer? He can’t do 180’s?
I'm better than you. Na na na boo boo, stick your head in doo doo.
Doerkson is the man
Joe Doerkson is a guy ive only just started to really become a fan of. He’s been around ever since i got into MMA, but his quiet persona kinda makes him go unnoticed, ive recently realised what a f’n gamer the guy is.
trying to check out more of his stuff, Doerkson is the man!
Leben vs. Doerkson was great, but Castillo vs. Corales blew my mind. By all means, slip those boxing vids in after the jump from now on if they’re classics like that. I used to cut my teeth on boxing, and watching a great boxing match is quite a sight. The boxing vs. mma rivalry is interesting, but at the same time, it would be equally interesting to see what could happen if they went hand in hand, and worked together, or at least, had a more positive mentality about coexisting.
From all reports she (Cyborg) pretty much only spars men, and has been known to put some out during training. - Rudinho479
holy crap
that was the most exciting boxing match i’ve ever seen. any fights that you guys can recommend which are of similiar awesomeness?
Go big red!
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