Dana White still rooting for Chris Leben, but unsure of timetable for return to UFC

[BluenoseGreig]

Chris Leben is still a little more than three months away from being reinstated by the UFC, and already his boss is rooting for him when he returns.

Leben in November 2011 was suspended by the company for a year after testing positive for prescription painkillers oxycodone and oxymorphone after his UFC 138 main-event loss to Mark Munoz in Birmingham, England. It was Leben's second suspension for a failed drug test.

But this past week, UFC President Dana White said though he wasn't sure about a precise timetable for Leben's return, the middleweight has an important part of the UFC's history.

"I don't know (when Leben will be back)," White said, "(but) I love Leben, too. He's a warrior, he always brings it and I'm happy he's got his stuff together again. I want to see that kid do well."

Leben (22-8 MMA, 12-7 UFC) came to the UFC in 2005 as a cast member of the first season of "The Ultimate Fighter." While on the show, he was part of a rivalry with more than one fighter in the house, including welterweight standout Josh Koscheck.

Before his loss to Munoz and subsequent yearlong suspension by the UFC – since the promotion does its own regulating and testing for most international shows – Leben was on a 4-1 run, including wins over Wanderlei Silva, Yoshihiro Akiyama and Aaron Simpson.

At the time of his second suspension, White said he had no intentions of cutting the fighter, but rather hoped he would get help, if needed, and the UFC would have his back.

"If he needs professional help, we are going to be there for him," White said. "We want to see him succeed not only in the octagon but in his personal life."

This past week in Los Angeles for UFC on FOX 4, White reiterated his hope for Leben to succeed.

"When he walks away from this sport, I want to see him walk away with his gym, his business that he has, some money in the bank, a house paid off – all those things," White said. "He contributed a lot to this company. Season 1 of 'The Ultimate Fighter,' when the whole blowup with him and (Josh) Koscheck and Bobby Southworth happened, 2.3 million people tuned into that fifth or sixth episode – which were astronomical numbers at that time for that network.

"And Leben has put on some awesome fights in this company. I respect him, I care about him and I want to see him do well. I don't know (if he'll fight this year). We'll see."

Leben's first suspension came after a 2008 loss to Michael Bisping at UFC 89, which also took place in the United Kingdom. After that fight, he tested positive for the banned steroid Stanozolol. He was suspended nine months for that incident.

Leben will be eligible to return the first week of November.

http://mmajunkie.com/news/30053/dana...urn-to-ufc.mma

[Drock]

Chris Leben Vs Cung Le or Costa Philippou please Dana White

[Red Tex]

Good for Dana here. Guys think all I do is bash Dana, but it's nice to see his support for a hard working tough guy like Leben who bears his soul in the cage.

[Mu_Shin]

What Tex said...

[Cisco]

[BluenoseGreig]

yes, I'm usually not one to have any forgiveness for people who use any banned substances, but in Chris Leben there is an exception. He is clearly a bit troubled, and yet mostly always gives his all when he fights, and always, always ensures a good fight, so like the others said.....Well Done Dana, for sticking by Chris Leben.

[Kickass32]

Yeah I see the support as a good thing...Nice to see Dana have the guys backs.....BUT....how many times are we going to see or hear the "hopefully Chris has his shit together this time" scenerio....Drinking, steroids, pain killers.....what's next, will there be a next time??? I'm all for second chances, but I am also all for personel responsibility too....this is a fine line and I hope Dana is treading on the right side of the line.