After being diagnosed with a severe heart condition and forced into early retirement, UFC fighter Chris “The Crippler” Leben returned to the ring to battle Phil Baroni in the World Bare Knuckle Fighting Federation’s first championship match on November 9. Fighting in the light heavyweight division, Leben defeated Baroni by first-round TKO. Leben’s reputation as both a brawler and a Dionysian-level partier started on the inaugural season of The Ultimate Fighter reality show, and was maintained during his ten year career in the UFC.
Fighter: The Chris Leben Story follows Leben as he makes his return to the ring to fight Baroni after a two year hiatus from fighting. In this three part series we get a closer look at Leben, aspects of his training, his mental game both inside and outside the ring, and the dietary and lifestyle changes that have completely turned his health around. We also get to watch his bare knuckle win over Baroni.
Chris Leben currently coaches and fights out of The Arena combats sports gym in San Diego, California.
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