The last time Chris Leben stepped into an MMA cage, Uriah Hall was across from him at UFC 168, and the bout ended on a doctor’s stoppage after one round. A month later, Leben retired to coach. Nearly 13 years on, the chris leben record is about to get a new line: Leben, now 46, meets Yoshihiro Akiyama at Black Combat 17: Vantablack on November 21 at the Gocheok Sky Dome in Seoul.
It is a rematch 16 years in the making, and the promotion has billed it as Akiyama’s retirement fight. For Leben, it is a return few people expected after a cancelled comeback and a run in bare-knuckle boxing.
What the chris leben record actually says
The answer depends a little on where you look. His official UFC.com athlete profile lists him at 22-11-0, while coverage of the Black Combat announcement puts him at 22-12. Both agree on the figure that matters most: 22 professional wins. The one-loss gap is the kind of thing worth checking against the final bout sheet once Black Combat publishes it.
| Detail | Chris Leben | Yoshihiro Akiyama |
|---|---|---|
| Nickname | The Crippler | Sexyama |
| UFC.com record | 22-11-0 | 15-6-0 |
| Record in announcement coverage | 22-12 | 16-7 |
| UFC debut | April 9, 2005 | July 11, 2009 |
| Last UFC bout | UFC 168, Dec. 28, 2013 | UFC Fight Night Seoul, Nov. 28, 2015 |
Most of the chris leben record was built at middleweight, the division where the Portland-born fighter spent his UFC years. His Octagon debut came in April 2005, more than two decades before this comeback.
How UFC 116 set up the Akiyama rematch
The first meeting came at UFC 116 in July 2010 at the MGM Grand Arena in Las Vegas, on a card headlined by Brock Lesnar and Shane Carwin. Leben accepted the middleweight bout on short notice and found a submission in the third round, at 4:40. It handed Akiyama his first loss inside the Octagon.
That result is still the high point many fans attach to the chris leben record. Winning late against an unbeaten-in-the-UFC opponent, after taking the fight with little preparation, summed up his reputation: hard to put away and dangerous right up to the final minute.
Why Leben walked away in 2014
The UFC 168 bout with Hall on Dec. 28, 2013 was stopped by the cage-side doctor at the end of round one. Leben announced his retirement in January 2014 and moved into coaching.
- 2016: He signed with Bellator, but that comeback ended before fight night after pre-fight medical testing flagged a heart issue.
- February 2021: He competed in bare-knuckle boxing against Quentin Henry, his most recent bout of any kind.
- November 21, 2026: His first MMA fight in almost 13 years, against Akiyama in Seoul.
That timeline is why this booking turned heads. Any reader wondering about the chris leben record since 2013 should know it has not changed in MMA; the bare-knuckle fight sits outside it.
Akiyama’s record and his farewell in Seoul
Akiyama’s Octagon run lasted six years, from 2009 through 2015. His UFC.com profile shows 15-6-0, with his final Octagon appearance a split decision over Alberto Mina at UFC Fight Night Seoul on Nov. 28, 2015. He kept competing in Asia after leaving the UFC, which is where the 16-7 figure in the bout coverage comes from.
Ending his career in Seoul, where he last won in the UFC, gives the event a clear storyline. It also gives Akiyama a reason to settle an old score, because their only meeting sits on the chris leben record as a win.
What Black Combat has not confirmed yet
Several practical questions remain open. No weight class has been reported for the rematch, and no rules or round count have been made public beyond it being an MMA bout. No details about Leben’s medical clearance have been made public either, which matters given why his 2016 return fell through.
Fans interested in why promotions keep pairing returning veterans should also read our look at whether MMA is drifting toward boxing’s spectacle-driven matchmaking. For another veteran planning an exit on her own terms, see Holly Holm’s retirement timeline.
Frequently asked questions
Is Chris Leben still fighting?
Yes. After nearly 13 years away from MMA, Leben is scheduled to face Yoshihiro Akiyama at Black Combat 17 in Seoul on November 21, 2026.
What is Chris Leben’s UFC record?
His UFC.com profile lists a professional record of 22-11-0, though coverage of his Black Combat booking lists him at 22-12. Both sources agree on 22 wins.
What is Yoshihiro Akiyama’s record?
UFC.com shows Akiyama at 15-6-0 from his UFC era, and coverage of the rematch lists him at 16-7 after his later fights in Asia.
What Leben has to prove at 46 in Seoul
Watch for the weight class and his medical clearance first; both will say a lot about how competitive this can be. A win would add a 23rd victory to the chris leben record and repeat the UFC 116 result on Akiyama’s farewell night. A loss would still close a loop that opened in Las Vegas in 2010. Either way, November 21 is a last chapter, not a fresh start.