UFC fighter Chris Leben arrested for parole violation (DUI)

Yikes, he could be screwing up his career in the UFC if he's jailed and can't fight at UFC 85..

<div class='quotetop'>QUOTE </div><div class='quotemain'>Chris Leben, a UFC middleweight who recently signed to fight Michael Bisping at UFC 85, was arrested in Oregon on Wednesday for a parole violation stemming from a previous DUI offense, according to the Clackamas County Sheriff's Office.

As of late Wednesday evening, Leben remained behind bars.

A representative from the Clackamas County Sheriff's Office told MMAjunkie.com (www.mmajunkie.com) that Leben will go before a judge at 3 p.m. on Thursday. It was determined upon his booking that he was not eligible for bail because of the probation violation, according to the representative.

Leben (18-4 MMA, 8-3 UFC), 27, most recently defeated Alessio Sakara in March at UFC 82. After Chuck Liddell was forced to pull out of a UFC 85 main-event bout with Rashad Evans, the UFC booked fights between Leben and Bisping, as well as Matt Hughes and Thiago Alves. The popular fighter found his way to the UFC via the first season of the UFC reality series, "The Ultimate Fighter."</div>

 

looks like it's an issue of having not completed his probationary classes stemming from an old DUI and Leben turned himself in which will help his chances of getting a visa to fight in the UK.
source sherdog.com
<div class='quotetop'>QUOTE </div><div class='quotemain'>OREGON CITY, Ore. -- UFC middleweight Chris Leben (Pictures) turned himself over to authorities yesterday after violating the terms of his probation stemming from a DUI arrest in 2005. A Clackamas Circuit Court judge had issued a bench warrant for Leben, 27, after he did not complete certain requirements of his probation before moving to Hawaii in 2007.

The exact details of the violation were not known, but one official at Clackamas County Community Corrections speculated it may have been due to unpaid fees or missed classes.

"He came in yesterday afternoon," said Detective Jim Strovink of the Clackamas County Sheriff's Office. "He knew he had violated his [probation] and he admirably turned himself in."

Leben is being held without bail. His next hearing is 9 a.m. May 8 at Clackamas County Circuit Court, just south of Portland, Ore.

Leben rose to national prominence during the first season of "The Ultimate Fighter" reality show. He began his UFC career on a six-fight win streak before losing to current champion Anderson Silva. He began his mixed martial arts career fighting out of Team Quest in Portland, but moved to Oahu, Hawaii, in 2007 to train and teach at Icon Fitness.

By turning himself over to authorities, Leben may have eased the process of securing a visa so he can travel to fight Michael Bisping (Pictures) in London at UFC 85 in June.

"When Chris moved to Hawaii, he was in the process of completing classes for his probation on an old DUI in Portland, Oregon," wrote Icon promoter T.Jay Thompson in a message posted on mixedmartialarts.com. "We worked hard to get his probation transferred to Hawaii but were unsuccessful. When he got the call to fight Bisping on June 7th in London, he knew what he had to do."

Thompson added that Leben is in "excellent shape" and plans on concluding his training camp with the help of Matt Hume (Pictures).</div>

 

a little more info

<div class='quotetop'>QUOTE </div><div class='quotemain'>Assuming a May 8 hearing goes as planned, UFC middleweight fighter Chris Leben will leave Oregon's Clackamas County Jail, finish his UFC 85 preparations in Hawaii, and travel to London, England, to fight Michael Bisping on June 7.

Leben turned himself into authorities on Wednesday after a bench warrant was issued for his arrest. Leben faced a probation violation stemming from a 2005 arrest for DUI.

T. Jay Thompson, Leben's friend and employer, today told MMAjunkie.com (www.mmajunkie.com) that he's already spoken to UFC president Dana White about the situation. Thompson said Leben "has the support of the organization" as he "continues doing the footwork to clean up his past."

MMAjunkie.com reported late Wednesday that Leben had been booked by the Clackamas County Sheriff's Office for a probation violation stemming from a DUI arrest. However, though asked, a sheriff's department representative didn't clarify that the DUI offense was a three-year-old charge.

Thompson took to the online forums to clarify the situation and spoke to MMAjunkie.com about the changes the popular fighter has made over the past year.

Thompson first met Leben when MMA trainer Matt Hume recommended him for an instructing position at ICON Fitness and MMA Center in Hawaii. Thompson admits that he was skeptical about Leben, who didn't have the cleanest reputation, but decided to hire him anyway based on Hume's recommendation.

"In the last year, [Chris] has completely undone any worries I had about him being a good guy and a great teacher," he said. "He's never missed a class, and even more so, he's never been late. He cares about his job and his students. He continues to work on his personal growth and toward becoming a better person."

Thompson said the move to Hawaii helped provide Leben a clean start. However, when he tried to get his probation moved from Oregon to Hawaii -- something Thompson's lawyers told him shouldn't be a problem -- they were denied.

"The parole officer immediately wanted to play hard ball," Thompson said. "Chris made up his mind, and with guidance from me, he decided to come to Hawaii and take the job anyway."

The probation violation wasn't an issue as Leben fought in the U.S. However, after Chuck Liddell was forced out of a UFC 85 main event with a leg injury, the UFC approached Leben about fighting Michael Bisping at the London event.

Knowing the overseas event would require a visa, Leben sprung to action.

"He went to Oregon and turned himself in, but it was a no-bail warrant, so he will do eight to 10 days before the hearing," Thompson said. "At that point, the warrant was revoked... and the visa is being put together as we speak."

Thompson said Leben planned to work out to the best of his ability while behind bars and even determined that he could probably use his mattress as a punching bag. He said Leben has vowed to stay in fighting shape despite the setback.

Thompson and his lawyers are optimistic that Leben will receive a favorable ruling on May 8, though he realizes a jail term could be extended, putting the UFC 85 bout on jeopardy.

However, Thompson remains hopeful for a positive outcome and another step toward Leben's maturation process,

"It's been interesting for me to watch, seeing that I've been through a similar path," Thompson said. "I've been through what he has and probably more, but I didn't have to do it in publish fashion like Chris has to.

"But I don't expect him to stumble. Will this be the last time something stupid from his past or something new trips him up? Probably not. But I know he's willing to do the footwork, and I'm sure he'll get through it as a better person in the end."</div>


whew, I'm really looking forward to this bout and I was worried Leben had messed up big time after turning himself around.
If you saw TUF1, you know he's come from a troubled past so it's been good to see him do well in the UFC.

 

is it old video?

the DUI is 3 years old apparantly.

 

That video is just stupid. Looks like something I would have done in university or high school.

Certainly not as a grown man toying with celebrity.

I like watching Leben fight. I think he has really refined his skill the past couple of years, but shit like this makes me hate the man.

Ignoring that entirely, how will this effect his fight prep? The fight was already called on relatively short notice, losing a week from his camp won't help him at all.

 

I just rewatched those videos. They are in the same night? Jesus. How old is he?

 

whoops, looks like Leben is screwed and off UFC 85.. damn would have been a great scrap with Bisping.
wonder who the UFC will get in his place?

Cote??? yeeeeeeeeeeah boy!! that'd be great too

<div class='quotetop'>QUOTE </div><div class='quotemain'>Chris Leben issued jail time, UFC 85 bout scratched (updated)

UFC middleweight Chris Leben today was sentenced to 35 days of jail time (and credited for eight days' time served) following last week's arrest for a probation violation, according to a representative from Oregon's Clackamas County Sheriff's Office.

However, Leben's UFC 85 bout with Michael Bisping now appears unlikely to take place. The bout was set for the televised main card of the June 7 event.

MMAjunkie.com (www.mmajunkie.com) could not immediately reach Leben's employer and friend, T. Jay Thompson, for comment. UFC officials have yet to comment on the matter.

Leben turned himself over to Oregon authorities last week. Leben moved to Hawaii in 2007 to serve as an instructor at Thompson's ICON Fitness facility, but his request to transfer his probation (stemming from a 2005 DUI arrest) was denied. Thompson told MMAjunkie.com last week that Leben decided to take the job anyway since he felt Hawaii would provide him the "fresh start" he needed.

A bench warrant was ultimately issued, and when Leben was added to London's UFC 85 fight card, he knew that getting a visa would require a resolution to the situation.

He turned himself into authorities on April 30 and was sentenced today. Once the jail time is served, Leben will no longer be on probation.

Last week Thompson told MMAjunkie.com that he and Leben were optimistic that no additional jail time would be issued and that they'd make the UFC 85 fight date.</div>

<div class='quotetop'>QUOTE </div><div class='quotemain'>Update: According to Wrestling Observer, UFC matchmaker Joe Silva has confirmed that the Leben-Bisping bout has officially been postponed. </div>