Chris
Leben is set to return to mixed martial arts nearly 13 years
after his last
Ultimate Fighting Championship appearance.

Black Combat announced Wednesday that Leben will face Yoshihiro
Akiyama at its Black Combat 17: Vantablack event on Nov. 21 at
Gocheok Sky Dome in Seoul, South Korea. The bout will serve as
Akiyama’s retirement fight, according to the promotion.

Advertisement

Chris Leben and Yoshihiro Akiyama first fought at UFC 116 in
2010

Leben (22-12) and Akiyama (16-7) first met at UFC
116 in 2010. Leben accepted the matchup on short notice and
rallied to submit Akiyama with a triangle choke in the third
round.

Leben, 46, hasn’t competed in MMA since December 2013, when he lost
to Uriah
Hall. The UFC veteran announced his retirement from MMA in
January 2014, with plans to focus on coaching. He later signed with
Bellator in 2016, but his comeback was halted after medical tests
revealed a serious heart condition.

Leben eventually competed in bare-knuckle boxing, with his most
recent bout coming against Quentin
Henry in February 2021.

Akiyama is now scheduled to close his career against the man who
handed him his first UFC defeat.

IMAK ADMIN

By IMAK ADMIN

Internationaler Kampfkunst und Kampfsport Kleinanzeiger