A middleweight bout between Chris Leben (21-6 MMA, 11-5 UFC) and former WEC champion Briann Stann (9-3 MMA, 3-2 UFC) has been targeted for the Jan. 1 UFC 125 card. Sources close to the event today alerted MMAjunkie.com (www.mmajunkie.com) of the tentative plans, though bout agreements have not been signed.
Although not officially announced, UFC 125 takes place at the MGM Grand Garden Arena in Las Vegas and airs on pay-per-view.
If finalized the fight likely will be part of the televised main card.
Leben, who remarkably makes his 17th consecutive UFC appearance, has never seen his stock higher in the 185-pound division. He's currently riding a three-fight win streak with a decision win over Jay Silva at UFC Fight Night 20, a TKO victory over Aaron Simpson at The Ultimate Fighter 11 Finale ("Knockout of the Night" bonus), and a submission win over Yoshihiro Akiyama at UFC 116 ("Fight of the Night" honors). The Simpson and Akiyama wins came within 14 days of each other.
Leben recently has been campaigning for a fight with Wanderlei Silva, whom he also wants to coach against on "The Ultimate Fighter 13" in early 2011. Production normally begins in mid-January, so a "TUF" gig theoretically is possible if he beats Stann. (Silva currently is recuperating from recent knee surgery.)
Of course, Stann is on a solid run of his. He's won three of his past four fights (all in the UFC) with decision victories over Steven Cantwell and Rodney Wallace and a recent submission win over Mike Massenzio at UFC on Versus 2 that won him "Fight of the Night" honors. The lone loss came to highly touted NCAA Division I national wrestling champion Phil Davis, who was unable to finish Stann and settled for a decision win.
The Greg Jackson-trained fighter, former Marine, war veteran and Silver Star winner recently released a book about his MMA and military exploits entitled "Heart for the Fight." It earned a positive review from MMAjunkie.com.
For more on UFC 125, stay tuned to the UFC Rumors section of the site.
(Pictured: Chris Leben)
