Retired UFC fighter and The Ultimate Fighter 1's Chris Leben (@chrislebenmma) on life after his MMA fighting career as a coach, gym owner, referee and judge.
Directed, shot & edited by Ray Hui
MARTIAL ARTS GYMS FEATURED IN THIS DOCUMENTARY:
The Training Center www.trainingcentersd.com
The Arena thearenagym.com
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I will never ever forget meeting Chris Leben. I've run into him a few times actually, but no meeting was more important than the first one. I was a young amateur getting ready to fight for the second time. Sitting downstairs waiting for my time at the Roseland. Chris noticed me pacing around all nervous. He gave me a short pep talk and let me know it was going to be alright. I won that fight, and I give a lot of credit to Chris for taking time out to give me a little chat. Chris Leben is a genuinely good dude.
Great post. It definitely set you. Stay safe and heart of a lion
That is so great to hear. Thank you for sharing
thats beautiful man 🙏
That’s awesome man. Respect for you being a warrior
He just spritz, pee and knowledge
When i clicked on the video i thought he was going to be punch drunk, judging by his brawling style and all the wars he's been into, but his speech is on point and he has matured a lot in every aspect. So happy for him.
Me too. The slurring was likely the alcohol, I'm so proud of him as a recovering addict myself.
Look at Overeem, man went to sleep over 20 times throughout his career (both kickboxing and MMA) and the guy speaks better english (as his second language) than most native english speakers :)) there are just some guys that don't suffer the same effects.
@@artsykilla and pain killers....
@@artsykilla right. this just proves the diaz brothers are actually blazed out their minds 24/7.
@@artsykilla at 28 i decided i was totally allergic to alcahol and clas a drugs ,thats how i coped ,i never went to meetings to discuss something i am allergic too,i never white knuckle ride ,i started training i am 61 now most of my pals died ,i say this to any alcaholic or drug addict ,no wonder you are all fucked up yopu are putting substances into your body what you are allergic too dah this has saved many lives ,no need to disvcuss allergies just know you have them ,no white knuckle ride,hey chris you are fuckin magnificent and donot let anyone say anything different i am so proud of you
Man, we love you Chris. You ain’t gotta explain nothing to nobody. You’re a warrior through and through. You don’t have to justify it by these people. I’ve always been inspired by you from the TUF days and I’m still inspired by you. You’re a champion.
Think about what your saying sir he was an embarrassment even Dana said it Ok credit due him being a fighter but it ends there for me.
Dude wtf are u talking about? He changed his life and is saying this bc HE feels he has too. Ur opinion is just bs.
@@unclequack5445are you saying people don’t have the capacity to change? If you are (and you seem to be) almost every form of evidence available for use in the decision-making process would refute what you’re saying. Don’t rain on the man’s parade, he is evidently a different person than he was during his time in the UFC.
@@unclequack5445Thats ok, im sure Chris isn't proud of some of his past behaviors, but you have to move on from that shit. You can't let it effect your sobriety today, tmrw etc...i've struggled with opiates for 20+ years im around the same age as Chris. The guy is a fucking inspiration to people like me.
Absolute Legend. Nothing but respect. You are an inspiration for all of us.
Legend ??? 🤣🤣🤣🤣What ??? Khabib, Chuck Liddel, Royce Gracie, these are LEGENDS.
You are so right Alfredo I believe he is a legend also.
I agree with alfredo also he’s an absolute legend
That word Legend..gets used way too much these days..constantly thrown out so casually...I hear Justin Fuckin Bieber's a Legend now too.....A man to be spoken about and revered during moonlit campfires for generations upon generations to come...
Yes , a legend , you have no right to question, you should step down
This video genuinely made me feel happy for Chris
I can't help but feel a little emotional watching this, Chris has such a story and I believe a huge-ass heart. Love that guy!
Same
I can tell you from firsthand experience he has a huge heart, and is a solid guy, and a great coach.
As a former athlete and a person in recovery I could not be more pleased listening to this mature articulate intelligent responsible example of an adult and a leader. Well done chris.
Loved watching you're fights ilve seen all of them. As a recovering addict clean for 10years. Makes me happy to see you doing so well much respect
When he was on TUF as a young man I saw all the hallmarks of a low IQ person, including the bullying, loud obnoxious behaviour, short attention span etc.
@@paulietv2162 Quiet chump. The adults are speaking.
@@potoole Well, I guess compared to you he is intelligent
@@paulietv2162 You meant to say compared to you. You just said he was a young man and they were getting those guys liquored-up in the TUF house. Obviously you aren't intelligent enough enough to know the effects of alcohol.
Such a beautifully made video. Good job dude. Chris looks great here. TUF 1 was a classic season and got me into MMA.
Thank you!
I remember watching the first season , he is such a great person . So happy for him he made it ....
I wonder if he knows about that Bill Burr bit?
@@casualobserver4810 which one?
I've been clean for 2 years now.. took me years of rehab, hard work, dedication, and martial arts. MAD respect for you Leben, im 35 years old, and started boxing the same week i started recovery. it helped me so much, and i grew up watching you fight. It gives me hope, to see where you are now. Im so proud of you and what you've accomplished.
I used to love watching Chris’s fights in the UFC. One of the best brawlers in the game. Always brought the fire.
I'm 41 years old and I've watched Chris come up in a huge fan. I am a pro fighter that fights in the BKFC I have one more left and I can relate to Chris
How's retirement?
this man's evolution as a human being has been nothing but amazing.
What he says in the first 1:12 is what so many never realize and is absolutely critical to success. Good for him and so much respect his way, so few people ever truly come to that realization and act upon it.
Huge Respect for him.
Powerful documentary. Chris is a repository of wisdom gained in the "school of hard knocks." I'm thrilled that he seems to have found peace and contentment.
Chris Liben has always been one of my favorite fighters ever since I was in my 20s I'm 40 now and watched this guy right up until the end of his career. His go forward style was always my favorite type of fighter to watch. Having struggled through alcohol and drug addiction myself and come out on the other side today , I feel a relation "outside the fighter world" to these fighters that are so open about their challenges, struggles and ways to find light.. Such a good dude. Always on the top of my list as a mixed martial artist. See you in the cage is a Ref bro.
Very high quality Documentary! It's definitely on the short side of documentaries, yet it doesn't appear empty or lack of contents. It feels so real, not one bit is sensationalized, something you would never get from mainstream big production documentaries.
Thank you! 🙏
Couldn't have said it better myself! 💯 👏
You a warrior! You are one of my favorite fighters to watch! And your a power of example to so many people! God bless you Chris!
This man has grown so much! I watched him when he first appeared on our screens. He is a real live example of Never Give Up on yourself or anyone else for that matter. Very happy for this man. And well done to the production team.
Chris is and will always be my hero...he helped me find myself...as a fighter and as a human...I had a long battle with addiction and I looked up to him when there was nobody to look up to. Chris I wish you well in life. You probably won't see this but you made a difference bro, from the other end of the world.
Love Chris. Was fortunate enough to have been his teammate at alliance for a short time and call him a friend. A journey filled with obstacles, substance abuse to this is amazing to see.
This was great! So happy that life is turning out this way for Chris. Will look forward to seeing you Ref in the UFC.
Dana owes him that. The brand owes him that for all the blood sweat n tears
@@Chronicstate187 man why do people think they "deserve" anything???
@@jmara3741i dont know but ufc fighters should presumably be more comfortable under refs who have had ufc experience.
@@jmara3741 if ultimate fighter had any bearing on ufc's popularity then lebens role in that shouldnt be dismissed.
@@Chronicstate187 AMEN brother I agree
Chris is such an awesome guy. I had the opportunity to train with him in San Diego a few years ago while getting ready for a fight. He went out of his way to spend time working with me individually after class, working drills, and giving advice that I have never forgotten before continuing with his own training. I'll never forget how awesome that was. It was an honor and I love to see him killing it 🙏
Total respect for Chris . I wish him much success in the future. Talked the talk and walked the walk . 💪🥊🤟🙏
I loved watching him fight. He was a warrior. I'm so happy to hear he has successfully transitioned to this next phase. Good luck Chris.
This video made me so happy. When i stopped competing as an athlete, it was hard. Luckily I got into reffing and then coaching. I really felt like I got to complete the loop and repay my debt to my coach's. Bless you sir and thank you for this video. It means a lot to us to see how well you are still doing and how you have overcome addiction.
Thanks for watching! Happy to hear this piece brightened your day.
So happy for Chris that he was able to grow and become the guy who helps others. All the respect in the world for this man.
Great job by Ray Hui. Much respect To Chris. I always enjoyed him in the UFC. He’s come full circle and will be a life changing force for others through his journey.
Thank you!
I really hope they do more of these documentaries. It puts the spotlight back on the bones of this sport. Well done Chris, thank you for your continued contribution to the sport.
I’ve followed Chris’ career in real time since he debuted on the first season of TUF. I looked forward to every single fight he was scheduled for since. Love this dudes heart and fighting style. I can’t count how many times he made my jaw drop during his many scraps. I always rooted for him, even against fighters I really liked. He always seemed to trump anyone else he was pitted against for me. I always wanted him to win. You gotta give it up to these warriors that step in that cage under the bright lights for our entertainment. Very proud of his growth in every way. Bravo brother!
Wow, Chris Leben , absolute legend of MMA.. Is so good that his life is on the right path, as he said, “the Sky is the limit for him” he deserves all the success that come s his way..
Chris has had more personal growth and maturity gain than many people ever will, or even want. Respect.
I used to love watching Chris's fights. He had so much heart that he'd continue charging his opponent while taking hard punches to the face. It was like watching someone who was insane, but whom you had great respect for.
Love this guy! So glad for him and his sobriety. Hope it continues. He has always been my FAVORITE fighter.
The greatest MMA video I have ever seen. Could not be more happier for Chris. What a motivational inspiration.
WOW that intro was powerful...I can relate... Chris all the best in recovery
This piece was done very well! Hats off to whomever produced i! Looking forward to seeing the success of Chris’s gym, and watching him ref more fights
My family and I are from Chile, and we have been fans of Chris since his Ultimate Fighter days when he was just a problematic kid with tons of heart and toughness. Now that I've seen this video, I feel so relieved and genuinely happy for him, both as a person and as the successful, productive man he has become. I immediately had to tell my parents about his success because I know they, like me, have been hoping that Chris achieves the success he deserves! God Bless.
This is what martial arts can, and will do to committed person. Chris Leben is a true budoka. I am so glad he found his way and inspiring so many people. He truly found his way and I highly repect him and the path he as walked is an inspiration for so many others to follow. ❤️🥋
From watching the ultimate fighter almost 20 years ago it is beautiful to see his transformation. I wish him the best!
Excellent job Ray Hui! This is an inspirational documentary that focuses on a true legend of the sport. So happy for Chris’s success and for how he is utilizing his platform to mentor the younger generation.
Thank you brother!
Great doc! I’m so glad Chris is doing good. He really was one of the toughest fighters ever.
A true tough guy not only in the octagon but in life, a ton of heart, god bless him, need more people like this in the world.
That's a great video, really nice shots. And Chris looks amazing, after all he's been through. I would've loved to be a part of of that gym :)
Thank you!
great job!
Thank you!
Hard puncher, willing to trade makes for entertaining fights. One tough SOG. I loved watching his fights. Hope he’s healthy and stays healthy and is with us for a long time.
Awesome video
Thanks!
legend!
Chris is a great example to me, he is full of courage.
Huge fan of yours as a fighter. Even bigger fan of what you’ve done since and the challenges you’ve faced and conquered. Great message!!
He is the Stev-o of MMA
Chris Leben is such a real dude. So happy to hear he is in a good place. May God bless you, man.
Thanks for the upload. Good vid!
The crippler was always one of my favorites. That Terry Martin KO is still one of my favorite highlight reels
Really well put together Doc. Chris is an absolute legend in the sport! Being able to witness his story from the TUF days and now seeing this side of him is truly a feel good story for the sport. I just subscribed and cant wait to watch your other Doc's.
His quote “putting the stamp on kids” is one of the coldest I’ve ever heard. Looking great Chris.
The world needs more Chris Leben's,,,especially for the younger generations,,he's been there, done that,,,full circle fighter,,now a coach,referee,giving it back,,cheers to him...
Thanks for the pic with my son today at X in Santee, Chris. I showed him your career highlights and this video. Respect.
This is AMAZING! THANK YOU!
Thank you Ray. Very well done! Bravo!
Great video and story. Watched many of your fights, always 100% action. Big supporter. Wishing you the very best with your gym, as a coach, as a future UFC ref and life. 🙏
Fantastic video man! The musical score is phenomenal! Well done 🎉
One of my fav mma fighters. Great video! 🤙
Was always a big fan of Chris......now ima bigger fan. What a great man he's become. Stay up Chris
Just so good to see him having it all together and giving back. True sportsmanship Chris.✌️🙏❤️
Thank you for making this! Chris will always be my favorite fighter, hands-down. For belts and sobriety dude is a straight up warrior. Much respect❤️🩹🤙🏻
These are great videos -please make more! So happy for Chris.
Man, Chris you are the absolute Man. So good to see you sober and living a full life. Much respect and love Brutha
Great job! @Ray Hui Subbed! Liked! And commented! This was a well presented docu on one of the foundational members of TUF. Leben is legendary, warts and all. From drunk-bad-boy-war-machine to a sober and articulate entrepreneur-veteran of the fight game... so glad you made and posted this. Bravo!
Thank you for your kind words and for subscribing!
Ray, this was awesome! Definitely subbed to your channel. Looking forward to more quality work from you.
Hats off to Chris - He’s giving back, happy, and making his own way AND helping others.
thank you for making thiss
Excellent video!!! Subscribed. I hope your channel really takes off. I am a fan.
Incredible story. Amazing video 🙏🏼
Loved this video. Keep interviewing more guys from his era and prior. Good job!
Glad to see Chris has his shit together. Great focus. Purposed. Driven. Instructor. Coach. Ref. He's taken a lot of hard shots to the head, as fighters usually do, a lot of times this leads to CTE. Chris seems mentally spot on and sharp. Loved watching you fight Chris. Great to see you've moved on to benefit others while staying focused. 👍👍
Always knew you were in there my man! Good for you!!
I was always a fan of Chris Leben. At times I questioned his attitude but he really has changed over the years and for the better. Life has been rough for him but he never stopped inspiring so many others out there.
wow. great show. keep'em coming. very inspiring
Chris is still one of my favorite fighters. Loved him on the tuf show
Nice little update! Glad you're finding piece and able to enjoy the people around you
love this channel thanks
This video is so deep! Great job! Man what a great and special perspective you let us see. Thank you
Legend journey. Great work OG.
Man this is compelling to hear Chris say all these things. He speaks from life experience. Shedding light to those in the fight world. He's become wiser and in tune with his life. Glad to see him doing well. He will definitely be a great coach, judge, and mentor for all fighters training under his wings! God bless you Chris.
I was in Army flight school back in 2005. I started watching Ultimate Fighter. I rooted for Chris Leben, and I continue to root for him now.
Great video
This was awesome. Positive and inspiring!
When a person invests so much in his idea, he will definitely come to success. Good luck to Chris with his gym and judging. He is a good man
Chris deserves to be in the UFC hall of fame, and hopefully they put him in as a fighter, ref, and a coach. You are amazing Chris and thankyou for everything you have done.
Love you Leben! You’re an inspiration not only to me but many! Definition of grit, heart, and determination. God bless brother.
This was really awesome to see. Super proud of this guy.
Love this dude ! Love this message ❤️
Good job bro. Been down a similar path. Keep moving forward my friend!
good production and thank you for letting us enjoy it.
Man I am so impressed by this, was always a big fan of Chris and its great to see him healthy and happy. Will be great to one day see him ref in the UFC. 👏
Great piece!!
Excellent mini-doc! Everything about it is high quality!
Thanks for sharing champ.