Silva Draws Leben at UFC 132
Apr 4, 2011
Wanderlei Silva (above) will return to face Chris Leben at UFC
132. | Daniel Herbertson/Sherdog.com
Former Pride Fighting Championships middleweight titleholder Wanderlei Silva will toe the line against Chris Leben in a featured 185-pound matchup at UFC 132 “Cruz vs. Faber 2” on July 2 at the MGM Grand Garden Arena in Las Vegas. The promotion on Monday announced the matchup.
Silva last appeared at UFC 110 in February 2010, when he earned a unanimous decision over “The Ultimate Fighter” Season 3 winner Michael Bisping at the Acer Arena in Sydney, Australia. The 34-year-old Brazilian, beloved for his violent live-by-the-sword-die-by-the-sword fighting style, has delivered 23 of his 33 career victories by knockout or technical knockout. Silva owns notable wins against former UFC light heavyweight champion Quinton “Rampage” Jackson (twice), Japanese icon Kazushi Sakuraba (thrice) and two-time Olympian Dan Henderson. One of the sport’s most popular figures, he holds a 3-5 mark inside the Octagon. Silva underwent reconstructive knee surgery in July.
Sherdog.com’s 2010 “Comeback Fighter of the Year,” Leben has not competed since he succumbed to first-round strikes from Brian Stann at UFC 125 on New Year’s Day. The defeat snapped a three-fight winning streak for the 30-year-old Portland, Ore., native. Wins over American Kickboxing Academy representative Mike Swick, former UFC middleweight title contender Patrick Cote and one-time Sengoku Raiden Championship middleweight kingpin Jorge Santiago anchor his resume. Leben has secured more than half (13) of his 25 professional victories by knockout or technical knockout.
A bantamweight title fight pitting champion Dominick Cruz against former WEC featherweight king Urijah Faber will headline UFC 132. The event will also feature three pivotal lightweight battles: George Sotiropoulos vs. Evan Dunham, Dennis Siver vs. Matt Wiman and Melvin Guillard vs. Shane Roller.
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