After a year long suspension following a failed drug test at UFC 138, TUF 1 veteran Chris Leben returned to action at UFC 155. Unfortunately for Leben, his return against Derek Brunson didn’t go as well as he’d planned. An early Brunson takedown set the tone for how the fight would play out. While Leben’s work from the bottom limited Derek’s offensive output, he still gave up a clear decision when the final bell sounded.
Four days after the event, “The Crippler” took to Twitter to explain his performance:
i just watched the fight. Hindsight is 20/20 there’s def some things i would change about my performance. Coaches game plan was dead on
— Chris Leben (@cripplerufc) January 2, 2013
I just had a little ring rust. But that being said derek brunson is a boring fighter the times he hit me, i let him just to get him to swing
— Chris Leben (@cripplerufc) January 2, 2013
Even though Leben’s words may have the ring of a sore loser, I don’t think many are clamoring for the next Derek Brunson fight after that performance. Regardless, picking up a win in your UFC debut, especially as a PPV opener, is paramount to putting on an exciting fight.
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