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[Sakara=Excitement]

White regrets having Leben-Brunson open UFC 155's main card | News

LAS VEGAS – MMA fans love to play matchmaker and they love to decide where fights should be slotted on cards.

Sometimes, they might just be right. For instance, at UFC 155, fans on social media made a push for a bantamweight bout between Eddie Wineland and Brad Pickett to be on the main card instead of the closing bout on the FX-televised prelims.

Instead, a middleweight fight between Chris Leben and Derek Brunson opened the pay-per-view, and UFC President Dana White said after the fight he regrets that decision.

UFC 155 took place at MGM Grand Garden Arena in Las Vegas. Brunson (10-2 MMA, 1-0 UFC) beat Leben (22-9 MMA, 12-8 UFC) by unanimous decision to open the main card.

Leben returned after a yearlong suspension for violating the UFC's drug policy. And while some cage rust may be to blame, White wasn't thrilled with Strikeforce crossover middleweight Brunson, either, who was making his UFC debut.

White said another plan was in place for the pay-per-view's first fight. The original Leben matchup was against Karlos Vemola, who had to pull out with an injury. But he remained the pay-per-view's opener after Brunson came on as the replacement while a pair of "Fight of the Night" contenders in Wineland-Pickett and Jamie Varner vs. Melvin Guillard had spots on the FX preliminary card.

Despite Leben's loss in his return, and despite being less than thrilled with the fight as a whole, White said he and the UFC will continue to cast his support behind Leben, who twice has been suspended by the promotion for drug violations.

[Sniggles]

Point-fighting grapplers are boring when they are not looking for a finish or inflict damage only hold position and blanket.

[Pasha K]

Why exactly is he defending him so damn much??
He is going to keep him in the roster only because he is an alcoholic and he needs help???

Both he and Brunson should be cut after the performance they showed. At some point it looked like 2 ripped guys that trained very hard for 2 hours, they were exhausetd, and then they were told to do a very light sparring.

And Brunson looked pathetic when he was screaming all excited after the fight. Ok, he was happy that he won, but at least have a bit of dignity for God's sake. After a performance like that there was nothing to be so excited about.
He is a professional fighter, gives the performance of an amateur against a guy that also looked horrible, and he goes and screams as if he just did the fight of the night??

[Sniggles]

Dana White is defending Leben because he has an established brand in the UFC. Duh.

[1inthechamber]

Originally Posted by Pasha K

Why exactly is he defending him so damn much??
He is going to keep him in the roster only because he is an alcoholic and he needs help???

Both he and Brunson should be cut after the performance they showed. At some point it looked like 2 ripped guys that trained very hard for 2 hours, they were exhausetd, and then they were told to do a very light sparring.

And Brunson looked pathetic when he was screaming all excited after the fight. Ok, he was happy that he won, but at least have a bit of dignity for God's sake. After a performance like that there was nothing to be so excited about.
He is a professional fighter, gives the performance of an amateur against a guy that also looked horrible, and he goes and screams as if he just did the fight of the night??

Cut a guy who's taken two fights in two weeks and puts on nothing but exciting fights, all for one bad performance after a year layoff coming back from drug addiction and against an opponent who didn't want to fight?

I think its time for you to log off.

[pimpslappd]

I agree with Rogan 100%. Most exciting part of the fight was after when Leben went to shake hands and Brunson fell backwards and laid there and Leben just stared for a sec, shook his head, and walked away LOL

[Sakara=Excitement]

Originally Posted by 1inthechamber

against an opponent who didn't want to fight?

Didn't want to fight? He out struck Leben on the feet and weaved every single shot Chris threw.

What was we supposed to do? Fight like a half tard like Wanderlei did and let Chris punch him in the face 50 times?

Come on man.

[Sniggles]

Originally Posted by pimpslappd

I agree with Rogan 100%. Most exciting part of the fight was after when Leben went to shake hands and Brunson fell backwards and laid there and Leben just stared for a sec, shook his head, and walked away LOL

It was quite true. I was saying what a dick Brunson was and how hilarious Leben's reaction was.

I didn't hear Rogan and Anik's commentary in its entirety due to the background noise but that comment made me laugh.

What I would say though is that the best part of Rogan and Anik's commentary was right there, it was downhill from there.

[Repenter]

i said this to a friend last night, after a quip about the post-fight drug testing.

leben will actually save face if he tests positive for heroin after that performance last night. at least it would explain why he was lethargic as kurt cobain circa 2001 and slower than crucifixion

[Pasha K]

Originally Posted by 1inthechamber

Cut a guy who's taken two fights in two weeks and puts on nothing but exciting fights, all for one bad performance after a year layoff coming back from drug addiction and against an opponent who didn't want to fight?

I think its time for you to log off.

Ok in 2010 he fought 2 times in 2 weeks and now because of that he is untouchable??
He is not the only fighter in the history of sports who has done that. Jon Jones has fought 3 times in 12 days.
Hell, there have been guys that have fought 3 different opponents in one night!! And here you say that 'HE FOUGHT 2 TIMES IN 2 WEEKS!!!!'

All exciting fights??? Some of them are exciting, but others are more of "Either he gets an early KO victory, either he gets dominated and finished"

He is 1-3 in his last 4. He has tested positive. He looked terrible yesterday. Plenty of guys get cut after that you know??