UFC 89

[Rappy Veteran]

A bout between "The Ultimate Fighter 3" winner Michael Bisping (16-1 MMA, 6-1 UFC) and veteran UFC middleweight Chris Leben (18-4 MMA, 8-3 UFC) will headline a recently announced UFC 89 event.

Marshall Zelaznik, the head of the UFC's UK division, made the announcement this week on Setanta News Ultimate Talk Show, a weekly UFC news show that airs on the U.K.'s Setanta Television.

UFC 89 takes place Oct. 18 at The National Indoor Arena in Birmingham, England.

[Rappy Veteran]

[davemint]

All i can say is that i cannot wait. Bisping's fights are always good to watch, hope he wins.

[Zoom7000]

Tomorrow folks! Can't wait to see a UFC event at a decent time! :laugh:

I certainly hope Bisping wins this one. Heard on Setanta News yesterday that if he does Dana White has promised him a clash with Silva in the UK!

Also looking forward to Jardine/Vera. I think Vera needs to win this if he wants to be taken as a serious contender at 205, dunno about Jardine though. It seems every time he appears to be on the way up, he gets KO'd big time and down the pecking order he falls. A loss here might just prove too much to come back from.

[Rappy Veteran]

Bisping vs Silva sadly would be very one sided.

[digipoi]

I think all the headline fights are pretty decent match ups. Except for Sokoudjou, they are pretty tough to pick.

I gotta go with Leben just because he trains here now at Icon. I'm riding the blind bandwagon with no shame lol. Plus, its easy as I just don't care much for Bisping.

[ViZioN]

Can't wait :D

[Rappy Veteran]

Going to be good, didn't buy the ppv but look forward to reading the results (Y)

[Rappy Veteran]

Bisping wins then by decision...so he may get that fight with Silva now then and in the UK maybe!

[Dev Null Zen]

It doesn't air for another hour here in the US, and its free on Spike.

[Rappy Veteran]

It doesn't air for another hour here in the US, and its free on Spike.

Hence the spoiler tags :p don't want to ruin it for anyone :)

[+shift. MVC]

Interesting fight. I thought Leben would have won though.

UFC 90 October 25th! Silva vs Cote :)

[digipoi]

That fight bored the heck out of me but did anyone else think Jardine did not deserve the W?

[+shift. MVC]

I thought that fight was pretty even actually, it could have gone either way IMO.

[Zoom7000]

The Jardine/Vera fight was terrible, I can't see either fighter working their way up the LHW division anytime soon with the form they are currently in.

I think Bisping deserved the victory, it was close, but he's gonna need to be a lot more aggressive and confident if he's gonna want to face up to Silva. At the moment it looks like Silva is gonna have too easy a match up. Would love to see "The Count" go up against the winner of Franklin/Henderson, if not both!

[Rappy Veteran]

The Jardine/Vera fight was terrible, I can't see either fighter working their way up the LHW division anytime soon with the form they are currently in.

I think Bisping deserved the victory, it was close, but he's gonna need to be a lot more aggressive and confident if he's gonna want to face up to Silva. At the moment it looks like Silva is gonna have too easy a match up. Would love to see "The Count" go up against the winner of Franklin/Henderson, if not both!

He will be fighting Henderson in TUF 9.

[Zoom7000]

Leben Suspended for Nine Months after Failing UFC 89 Drug Test

LAS VEGAS, November 3 - Zuffa, LLC, owner of the Ultimate Fighting Championship (UFC), today released information stating that middleweight fighter Chris Leben tested positive for the anabolic agent stanozolol following his October 18th loss to Michael Bisping in the main event of UFC 89 in Birmingham, England.

As a result of the positive test, Leben will be suspended from fighting for nine months and must forfeit one-third of his fight purse.

?I am obviously disappointed with Chris, who has made great strides getting his life back on track,? said UFC President Dana White. ?To his credit, he has taken responsibility for his actions and is accepting the punishment that has been handed down. But as always, the UFC puts the safety of its athletes first and foremost, and we won?t tolerate anyone using performance enhancing drugs in our organization.?

Leben said, ?I?ve really done everything I can to turn my life around, and this is a huge setback for me, but it is something I will have to deal with. During my time off from fighting, I want to speak to kids about the dangers of using performance enhancing agents and let them know it just doesn?t get you ahead in life. Of course this is a hard hit for me monetarily, but more so this is embarrassing for me and for all of my fans. I apologize to the UFC and everyone who supported me in my fight in England. I hope to work through this and get back to fighting soon.?

The remaining 21 fighters on the UFC 89 card all passed their pre and post fight drug tests.

Source - UFC

So much for all the hype about him being "clea:angry:ober" :angry:

[Rappy Veteran]

9 months is quite killer to his UFC and MMA career.

[Matrix XII]

I wanted Leben to win anyways :(

[digipoi]

Source - UFC

So much for all the hype about him being "clean and sober" :angry:

Bah. Different kind of sober if you catch my drift. I applaud him for his alcoholism effort in hopes he will not return. Steroid use is just plain cheating. Training out of Hawaii he is killing our image. I expect him to catch some heavy local criticism.

[Matrix XII]

He should have beaten Bisping anyways, I want someone to take him down :ninja:

[rajputwarrior]

He should have beaten Bisping anyways, I want someone to take him down :ninja:

i don't care how good bisping does. Until he faces hammil again and actually beats him, i could care less.

[Christopher]

i don't care how good bisping does. Until he faces hammil again and actually beats him, i could care less.

Ever since then I have had it out for Bisping. I strongly feel that money is beginning to have more of an impact than ever in MMA.

Until Bisping is knocked out or submitted, he will win anything that goes to decision. Afterall, they can't have their money maker for the UK lose.

[TheElite]

Ever since then I have had it out for Bisping. I strongly feel that money is beginning to have more of an impact than ever in MMA.

Until Bisping is knocked out or submitted, he will win anything that goes to decision. Afterall, they can't have their money maker for the UK lose.

What?

Rashad Evans beat him with split decision several months ago.