Exklusivt: Chris Lebens comeback ställs in på grund av allvarligt hjärttillstånd

MMA-veteranen Chris Leben hade skrivit kontrakt med Bellator och gjorde sig redo för comeback. Nu har läkarna dock upptäckt att “The Crippler” lider av allvarliga hjärtproblem vilket gör att han sannolikt aldrig kommer fightas igen.

I januari började ryktena om att The Ultimate Fighter 1-veteranen Chris Leben (22-11) planerade en comeback till buren. Lite senare skrev han kontrakt med Bellator och det hela blev officiellt.

Dessa planer är emellertid inte aktuella längre.

Läkarna har nämligen upptäckt att 35-åringen har ett hjärttillstånd som kan vara livshotande. Bland annat ska blodströmmen genom hjärtat uppskattningsvis uppgå till 18 procent av det normala.

Leben tränade för comeback i Bellator och kände sig bättre än någonsin, men har nu fått reda på att han har stora hjärtproblem.

Avslöjade nyheten via pressmeddelande

MMAnytt fick ta del av ett pressmeddelande där nyheten avslöjades, som ni kan se i sin helhet här nedanför:

MMA LEGEND CHRIS LEBEN FACING LIFE-THREATENING HEART CONDITION

In early February of this year, UFC veteran Chris “The Crippler” Leben announced he was coming out of retirement to compete for Bellator MMA. As part of the signing process, and in preparation for a potential spring match-up, Leben underwent a battery of medical tests. Unfortunately, these test have revealed a serious condition in his heart. As a result, the slugger and fan favorite will likely never compete again.

Concerns were first raised when Leben failed several EKG tests during his physical examinations. He was then directed to take an echocardiogram, a sonogram of the heart. This analysis showed a life-threatening abnormality. The left ventricle of his heart is oversized, misshapen and is not operating properly. Doctors estimate that the blood flow through is heart is only 18% of what is considered normal.

Doctors immediately prescribed a combination of drugs, which they hope will prevent a catastrophic cardiac event. As of now, the prognosis is mixed: one doctor believes that he should be considered for a heart transplant, while another doctor hopes that medication and a healthy lifestyle will reverse some of the damage over time.

Doctors suspect that this serious ailment is due in large part to the fighter’s notorious hard living. Leben has suffered from extreme opiate addiction, alcoholism, and medical and psychological issues throughout his life. His recently released autobiography, The Crippler: Cage Fighting and My Life on the Edge, details the acute challenges that he has faced both inside and outside of the cage.

Leben’s health issues are not the only obstacle ahead of him. Unable to earn a living as a fighter, and faced with mounting medical bills, his financial situation is dire. Leben is making ends meet as a part-time coach at The Arena MMA gym in San Diego and is studying to earn a real estate sales license, which he will hang at Keller Williams East County near San Diego.

Leben also hopes to leverage his many life lessons for the benefit of others. He plans to devote time to communicating with young people and the MMA community about the dangers of drug use and about how to cope with addiction.

Leben says that he is grateful to the fans, friends and family that have been there for him throughout his life and career. He will continue to fight the good fight, and has confidence that strict dedication to nutrition and wellness will allow him to succeed in this battle. Leben asks anyone who wants to support him to consider purchasing a signed copy of his autobiography at his online store (https://chrisleben.ecwid.com).

Leben är en fighter som alltid krigade i buren.

En sann fighter som har gjort avtryck i sporten

“The Crippler” var minst sagt en färgglad figur i TUF-huset, och gick därifrån vidare till en lång UFC-karriär. 22 matcher i organisationen och ett matchresultat på 12-10 avslutades med fyra raka förluster, varpå han valde att gå i pension.

Han har haft en del problem med användande av alkohol och droger genom åren, vilket han går in på närmare i sin självbiografi The Crippler: Cage Fighting and My Life on the Edge, skriven av Daniel Patinkin. Numera lever han helt nyktert och hoppas inspirera andra att hålla sig borta från droger.

Under karriären har han hunnit med flera hyllade matcher och goda prestationer. Han utmärkte sig som en fighter som visade hjärta i oktagonen och har bland annat imponerande vinster bakom sig mot Patrick Cote (23-9), Yoshihiro  Akiyama (14-6-2) och Wanderlei Silva (35-12-1, 1 NC).

Vad är era bästa minnen från Lebens karriär?

Foto: Per Häljestam