Modern Fighting

LAS VEGAS, November 3 - Zuffa, LLC, owner of the Ultimate Fighting Championship (UFC), today released information stating that middleweight fighter Chris Leben tested positive for the anabolic agent stanozolol following his October 18th loss to Michael Bisping in the main event of UFC 89 in Birmingham, England.

As a result of the positive test, Leben will be suspended from fighting for nine months and must forfeit one-third of his fight purse.

“I am obviously disappointed with Chris, who has made great strides getting his life back on track,” said UFC President Dana White. “To his credit, he has taken responsibility for his actions and is accepting the punishment that has been handed down. But as always, the UFC puts the safety of its athletes first and foremost, and we won’t tolerate anyone using performance enhancing drugs in our organization.”

Leben said, “I’ve really done everything I can to turn my life around, and this is a huge setback for me, but it is something I will have to deal with. During my time off from fighting, I want to speak to kids about the dangers of using performance enhancing agents and let them know it just doesn’t get you ahead in life. Of course this is a hard hit for me monetarily, but more so this is embarrassing for me and for all of my fans. I apologize to the UFC and everyone who supported me in my fight in England. I hope to work through this and get back to fighting soon.”

The remaining 21 fighters on the UFC 89 card all passed their pre and post fight drug tests.

The Ultimate Fighting Championship(R) (UFC(R)) has added three thrilling bouts to the organisation’s next UK super-show. It has been confirmed that Rameau Sokoudjou will collide with Luiz Cane in a battle of light-heavyweight strikers, Japanese submission expert Akihiro Gono will take on on highly-regarded British debutant Dan Hardy and steel-fisted heavyweight Shane Carwin will exchange bombs with England’s own Neil Wain.

These three mouth-watering match-ups join the hotly anticipated main event of Michael ‘the Count’ Bisping v Chris ‘the Crippler’ Leben in the UFC’s third British show of 2008, which emanates from the National Indoor Arena, Birmingham, on October 18.

UFC UK Division President Marshall Zelaznik said: “Fight for fight, UFC 89: BISPING v LEBEN is already shaping up to be one of the best events of the whole year. There aren’t too many fights which you could place on a card headlined by Bisping v Leben and still expect that fight to have a chance of being fight of the night still. But Sokoudjou v Cane is one of those fights which - like our main event - you can practically guarantee is going to be a thriller.”

Zelaznik added: “We are also announcing that England’s Dan Hardy, who makes his UFC debut in his native Midlands, will match up with PRIDE and UFC veteran Akihiro Gono in what hardcore fans will know is a fantastic welterweight fight between two very innovative mixed martial artists.

“Plus, British fans will get a chance to see one of the most exciting heavyweight talents in the world, Shane Carwin, lock horns with Neil Wain, who brings his own unbeaten record to the UFC.”

Tickets for UFC 89: BISPING v LEBEN are priced £40, £50, £75, £125 and £225 and available from http://ticketfactory.co.uk or by calling 0871945 6000. Only 2000 seats remain for the NIA Arena.

After stumbling in his UFC debut last December, the man many know simply as “Sokoudjou” returned to his devastating best when he wiped out Kazuhiro Nakamura in one round at UFC 84 in May. Now, the 24-year-old Cameroon born “African Assassin” looks to continue in the form which made his the scourge of the PRIDE light heavyweight division.

The 5-2 puncher said: “Cane is a very good puncher and is aggressive like me. This could be the fight of the night but I am looking to build my UFC knockout streak. I fought once in Japan but this is the first time I am going to be fighting in Europe, and I am looking forward to really putting on an exciting fight for all the fans there. This a fight I am really looking forward to.”

Boasting a 9-1, 1 NC record and coming off a hugely impressive KO victory over Jason Lambert at UFC 85 in London, Luiz Cane returns to the UK for the second time in four months on a quest for the biggest
win in his career.

He said: “I am very aware of the opportunity in front of me. I realise that success in MMA is judged not only by fighting in the UFC, but by who you are fighting and where and I want to thank (UFC matchmaker) Joe Silva, Dana White and the UFC for trusting my skills. It is a great honour to fight a top 10 fighter and I will pay the UFC back by being in the best shape of my life, by being on the top of my game and by not only winning but winning a great fight. Make no mistake, I will be ready for Sokoudjou.”

Further exciting matches for UFC 89: BISPING v LEBEN will be announced shortly.

 London, England - The Ultimate Fighting Championship® (UFC®) organization will storm into the British Midlands for the first time when UFC 89: BISPING v LEBEN touches down at the National Indoor Arena, Birmingham, on October 18.

In a middleweight showdown, which has set mixed martial arts fans ablaze with anticipation, England’s own Michael ‘the Count’ Bisping will finally collide with Chris ‘the Crippler’ Leben. Two of the most explosively exciting strikers in the 185lbs division, Bisping and American Leben were originally set to face off in London at UFC 85 in June but, now, are set to do battle in Britain’s Second City.

“This is one of the most exciting fights we could have made in the middleweight division,” said UFC President Dana White. “Bisping has looked a monster since dropping down to 185lbs, and he’s dominated Charles McCarthy and Jason Day inside a round already this year. And Leben is coming into UFC 89 with a ton of momentum, too, having just knocked out Terry Martin and Alessio Sakara; two of the biggest wins of his career.”

White added, “That these two guys were willing to fight each other in London with six weeks’ notice shows you the kind of warriors they are. But now we will see this fight probably as it should have always happened, with both guys getting plenty of notice and coming in 100% ready for each other.”

Tickets for UFC 89: BISPING v LEBEN are priced £40, £50, £75, £125 and £225 and will be available from 10AM on July 2 to UFC Fight Club members, from 10AM July 4 to UFC Newsletter members and then they go on sale to general public at 10AM on July 6 at http://ticketfactory.co.uk, call 0871945 6000

UFC UK Division President Marshall Zelaznik said “We’ve wanted to come to Birmingham for a long time, and we’re delighted to finally be bringing the world’s most exciting sport to Britain’s Second City. In the coming weeks we will be announcing a stacked UFC card for the National Indoor Arena and I know the Midlands are very excited to be able to see Bisping v Leben live.”

The winner of season 3 of the Ultimate Fighter, Michael ‘the Count’ Bisping, 17-1 in MMA, has fought his way to super-stardom in his native England. An attack-minded striker with lightning fast fists, feet and knees, Bisping has been in devastating form since moving down to the middleweight division. The Clitheroe, Lancashire native will be stepping into the Octagon™ for the third time in less than six months when he faces Leben.
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