Chris Leben

Chris Leben is a retired mixed martial artist and bare-knuckle boxer known for his career in the UFC and WEC, and currently works as a referee and gym owner. After gaining widespread recognition as a contestant on the inaugural season of The Ultimate Fighter in 2005, Chris Leben transitioned to a distinguished career in mixed martial arts. Leben initiated his professional MMA journey in 2002, quickly making an impact with five consecutive victories, three of which were by knockout. His early dominance led to securing middleweight championships in various circuits, including the Gladiator Challenge Middleweight Championship in 2003 and becoming the inaugural WEC Middleweight Champion in 2004.

He also received ‘Fight of the Night’ honors for his bouts against Kalib Starnes (2007) and Yoshihiro Akiyama (2010), and was recognized as Sherdog.com’s Comeback Fighter of the Year in 2010. A career highlight was his fastest knockout win against Wanderlei Silva in 2011. Leben officially announced his retirement from MMA competition in 2014, but his passion for combat sports led him to explore new avenues. In 2016, he signed a multi-fight deal with Bellator MMA before making a return to active competition in 2018.

In recent years, he has successfully transitioned into officiating, serving as a respected mixed martial arts referee and judge. A significant milestone in this new role was his Nevada judging debut in 2023, further cementing his reputation as a respected and multifaceted professional within the sport.