# Enson: Leben Reveals Why He's Returning to Fight Akiyama **URL:** \ **Category:** UltimateGround\ **Created:** [November 1, 2026, 8:00pm UTC](https://forum.theonlyground.com/t/enson-leben-reveals-why-hes-returning-to-fight-akiyama/74361 "2026-11-01T20:00:19Z")\ **Posts on this page:** 15\ **Page:** 1
**Author:** ![HongKongPhooey](https://forum.theonlyground.com/user_avatar/forum.theonlyground.com/hongkongphooey/32/392567_2.png) [@HongKongPhooey](https://forum.theonlyground.com/u/HongKongPhooey)\ **Post date:** [November 1, 2026, 8:00pm UTC](https://forum.theonlyground.com/t/enson-leben-reveals-why-hes-returning-to-fight-akiyama/74361/1 "2026-11-01T20:00:19Z")
[![](https://img.youtube.com/vi/q0hGVBPv56k/maxresdefault.jpg "Chris Leben Reveals Why He's Returning to Fight Akiyama After 16 Years") ](https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=q0hGVBPv56k) ---
**Author:** ![HongKongPhooey](https://forum.theonlyground.com/user_avatar/forum.theonlyground.com/hongkongphooey/32/392567_2.png) [@HongKongPhooey](https://forum.theonlyground.com/u/HongKongPhooey)\ **Post date:** [November 1, 2026, 8:01pm UTC](https://forum.theonlyground.com/t/enson-leben-reveals-why-hes-returning-to-fight-akiyama/74361/2 "2026-11-01T20:01:16Z")
MMA legend Chris Leben joins Enson Inoue on the Yamatodamashii Podcast ahead of his highly anticipated rematch with Yoshihiro Akiyama, 16 years after their unforgettable battle at UFC 116. Chris opens up about why he’s returning to the cage, what he remembers from their original fight, and how his approach to fighting has changed over the years. We also dive into the wild days of The Ultimate Fighter, his dream fight with Wanderlei Silva, the differences between old-school and modern MMA, and his new perspective on the sport as a referee and judge. ---
**Author:** ![TimDuncan](https://forum.theonlyground.com/user_avatar/forum.theonlyground.com/timduncan/32/397147_2.png) [@TimDuncan](https://forum.theonlyground.com/u/TimDuncan)\ **Post date:** [November 1, 2026, 8:36pm UTC](https://forum.theonlyground.com/t/enson-leben-reveals-why-hes-returning-to-fight-akiyama/74361/3 "2026-11-01T20:36:07Z")
Leben is broke. I wish he could make a living coaching and doing other shit ---
**Author:** ![Left\_Hook\_Cemetery](https://forum.theonlyground.com/letter_avatar_proxy/v4/letter/l/f0a364/32.png) [@Left\_Hook\_Cemetery](https://forum.theonlyground.com/u/Left_Hook_Cemetery)\ **Post date:** [November 1, 2026, 11:26pm UTC](https://forum.theonlyground.com/t/enson-leben-reveals-why-hes-returning-to-fight-akiyama/74361/4 "2026-11-01T23:26:20Z")
I remember Enson having a big thread on Sherdog. It was apparently with him and some fan that he invited to train with him. He and the fan were posting in the thread. At some point though it became apparent he was making all the posts and pretending to be the fan, he slipped up and commented as Enson but under the fans user name. 😂 ---
**Author:** ![FingerorMoon](https://forum.theonlyground.com/user_avatar/forum.theonlyground.com/fingerormoon/32/53942_2.png) [@FingerorMoon](https://forum.theonlyground.com/u/FingerorMoon)\ **Post date:** [November 2, 2026, 1:27am UTC](https://forum.theonlyground.com/t/enson-leben-reveals-why-hes-returning-to-fight-akiyama/74361/5 "2026-11-02T01:27:45Z")
Because money. ---
**Author:** ![Tom-Ace](https://forum.theonlyground.com/user_avatar/forum.theonlyground.com/tom-ace/32/431286_2.png) [@Tom-Ace](https://forum.theonlyground.com/u/Tom-Ace)\ **Post date:** [November 2, 2026, 3:21am UTC](https://forum.theonlyground.com/t/enson-leben-reveals-why-hes-returning-to-fight-akiyama/74361/6 "2026-11-02T03:21:45Z")
Leben is a great ref and judge these days… wish he wouldn’t come back to fighting. Retired for a reason. Havinf said that.. Wish them both good health and fortune during camp ---
**Author:** ![PoolvianNecktiez](https://forum.theonlyground.com/user_avatar/forum.theonlyground.com/poolviannecktiez/32/470624_2.png) [@PoolvianNecktiez](https://forum.theonlyground.com/u/PoolvianNecktiez)\ **Post date:** [November 2, 2026, 3:53am UTC](https://forum.theonlyground.com/t/enson-leben-reveals-why-hes-returning-to-fight-akiyama/74361/7 "2026-11-02T03:53:56Z")
Chris is my top 3 fighters I enjoy watching getting punched in the head(the other 2 are anthony smith and diego sanchez) I hope the fight goes as long as possible and Chris’ brain takes maximum damage. Really hoping this isn’t his last fight. Would love leben to go out suicide by cop after the cte causes him to murder his entire family ---
**Author:** ![Chilz](https://forum.theonlyground.com/user_avatar/forum.theonlyground.com/chilz/32/393325_2.png) [@Chilz](https://forum.theonlyground.com/u/Chilz)\ **Post date:** [November 2, 2026, 5:03am UTC](https://forum.theonlyground.com/t/enson-leben-reveals-why-hes-returning-to-fight-akiyama/74361/8 "2026-11-02T05:03:15Z")
He’s making the big bucks being an MMA judge. ---
**Author:** ![Siciliano](https://forum.theonlyground.com/user_avatar/forum.theonlyground.com/siciliano/32/457662_2.png) [@Siciliano](https://forum.theonlyground.com/u/Siciliano)\ **Post date:** [November 2, 2026, 5:15am UTC](https://forum.theonlyground.com/t/enson-leben-reveals-why-hes-returning-to-fight-akiyama/74361/9 "2026-11-02T05:15:21Z")
When I trained at Quest and met Chris I was expecting him to be a dickhead because of the first season. He was one of the most humble badasses I ever got to chill with. Wish him the best of luck and future success. ---
**Author:** ![FloppyDivac](https://forum.theonlyground.com/user_avatar/forum.theonlyground.com/floppydivac/32/422318_2.png) [@FloppyDivac](https://forum.theonlyground.com/u/FloppyDivac)\ **Post date:** [November 2, 2026, 5:18am UTC](https://forum.theonlyground.com/t/enson-leben-reveals-why-hes-returning-to-fight-akiyama/74361/10 "2026-11-02T05:18:39Z")
> [@HongKongPhooey](#): > > ahead of his highly anticipated rematch ![Maury Povich: Lie Detector Determined That Was A Lie](https://static.klipy.com/ii/71b2873e478b9d8d0482ea3ec777ba7f/9b/94/dAxCb3Lq.webp) ---
**Author:** ![ShanTheMan](https://forum.theonlyground.com/user_avatar/forum.theonlyground.com/shantheman/32/392838_2.png) [@ShanTheMan](https://forum.theonlyground.com/u/ShanTheMan)\ **Post date:** [November 2, 2026, 5:18am UTC](https://forum.theonlyground.com/t/enson-leben-reveals-why-hes-returning-to-fight-akiyama/74361/11 "2026-11-02T05:18:40Z")
> [@PoolvianNecktiez](#): > > cte causes him to murder his entire family ![Morgan Freeman on Hope's Danger](https://static.klipy.com/ii/d7aec6f6f171607374b2065c836f92f4/8a/dd/k8VfbVdQ.webp) ---
**Author:** ![Siciliano](https://forum.theonlyground.com/user_avatar/forum.theonlyground.com/siciliano/32/457662_2.png) [@Siciliano](https://forum.theonlyground.com/u/Siciliano)\ **Post date:** [November 2, 2026, 5:22am UTC](https://forum.theonlyground.com/t/enson-leben-reveals-why-hes-returning-to-fight-akiyama/74361/12 "2026-11-02T05:22:11Z")
What the fuck is this bullshit? ---
**Author:** ![FloppyDivac](https://forum.theonlyground.com/user_avatar/forum.theonlyground.com/floppydivac/32/422318_2.png) [@FloppyDivac](https://forum.theonlyground.com/u/FloppyDivac)\ **Post date:** [November 2, 2026, 5:23am UTC](https://forum.theonlyground.com/t/enson-leben-reveals-why-hes-returning-to-fight-akiyama/74361/13 "2026-11-02T05:23:37Z")
Troll accounts bro ---
**Author:** ![MasterOfMartialArts](https://forum.theonlyground.com/user_avatar/forum.theonlyground.com/masterofmartialarts/32/393427_2.png) [@MasterOfMartialArts](https://forum.theonlyground.com/u/MasterOfMartialArts)\ **Post date:** [November 2, 2026, 6:58pm UTC](https://forum.theonlyground.com/t/enson-leben-reveals-why-hes-returning-to-fight-akiyama/74361/14 "2026-11-02T18:58:50Z")
> [@TimDuncan](#): > > Leben is broke. I wish he could make a living coaching and doing other shit He is coaching, I’ve seen his gym in videos on TikTok… I just haven’t been on that in months. But based on the clips I’ve seen he is a very good teacher. ---
**Author:** ![TimDuncan](https://forum.theonlyground.com/user_avatar/forum.theonlyground.com/timduncan/32/397147_2.png) [@TimDuncan](https://forum.theonlyground.com/u/TimDuncan)\ **Post date:** [November 2, 2026, 9:50pm UTC](https://forum.theonlyground.com/t/enson-leben-reveals-why-hes-returning-to-fight-akiyama/74361/15 "2026-11-02T21:50:51Z")
Good. He should stop fighting asap