I 100% agree that Leben is responsible for his own well-being. Chris probably should have been planning for after his career much earlier, but it appears he has not.
I was thinking that if I were Dana I would be making sure he has some sort of job with Zuffa. I would think he has earned that. I also think Dana has shown favouritism to him before (he has said as much right?) by giving him multiple chances after pissing hot.
I wanted to get the take of other MMA fans. Leben made a pretty decent contribution to helping the UFC succeed with being a TUF1 guy, not to mention the fights he has had.
I guess maybe if I were Dana I would be thinking "well if I do it for this guy I'll end up having to help out everyone", so I guess it boils down to whether Leben deserves the Zuffa Family treatment reserved for Chuck and Hughes.
Offer a job to a guy with admitted drug problems? 
Reinterment plans even small ones should start to be considered. Learn from the NFL 
No...it's not their job to take care of fighters. Leben's a man and needs to be responsible for his own life/actions. It's a sad story, but he created it. I don't know how much he made in his MMA career, but I'm guessing he made pretty good money. I also thought he had his own school. It's just like any other professional sport that guys have to plan for their life after fighting (opening schools, acting, other ventures, etc). I recently saw a video on Rich Franklin and he's opening juice bars. Chuck got special treatment because he's best friends with Dana. The UFC could (maybe they already do) set up some drug treatment programs for their fighters. Ultimately, it comes down to the individual. Dana can't move out to Hawaii to keep an eye on Leben. Plus, I bet Dana has already tried to help Leben.
Leben is complaining because he can't afford a counselor so he can stay on te right path. He's trying.
I think if Dana really cares about leben as much as e says he does then it should be done no questions asked. Get him the mental help he needs. Prevent something bad from happening to one of your most recognizable fighters retired or not
If I'm contracted to do an IT job and during this time I develop a drug habit and squander all of my earnings away, should the contracting firm take care of me?
Does any other League/Sport take care of athletes after they stop competing? How often do we hear about a former athlete homeless and when we do does that person's respective sport do anything?
It sucks but Leben put himself into this mess and has no one to blame but himself.
Hired Gun - Does any other League/Sport take care of athletes after they stop competing? How often do we hear about a former athlete homeless and when we do does that person's respective sport do anything?NFL vets needed a class action lawsuit to get compensation for the head injuries NFL was covering up.
It sucks but Leben put himself into this mess and has no one to blame but himself.
they should cut guys like leben loose from their contracts so they can at least fight in smaller shows in the future and not owe fights on a zuffa contract that pretty much end thier ability to fight again.he is obviously not going to make it in the ufc anymore but he could make 5 grand 4 times a year fighting for some local shows and at least feed his family
Since zuffa loves to rip off the wwe.. Should probably do what they do with their former stars who have problems, help them with rehab.
They don't owe Leben a job but they do owe him health insurance post career. They way he fought, he was a fan favorite and made them money.
Plus, and this will sound cold, Leben has some issues. What he does after The UFC reflects on them. If he has problems, better to help him out, rather than have him do something and garner bad press.
MieshaTatesSideBoob - They don't owe Leben a job but they do owe him health insurance post career. They way he fought, he was a fan favorite and made them money.I agree that it's in UFC's best interest PR-wise to help out Leben but I don't think they're obligated to do anything. Also, they may be concerned with the precedent this would set if they did take care of him. And how many less vocal people would come out of the woodwork?
Plus, and this will sound cold, Leben has some issues. What he does after The UFC reflects on them. If he has problems, better to help him out, rather than have him do something and garner bad press.
Hired Gun - Does any other League/Sport take care of athletes after they stop competing? How often do we hear about a former athlete homeless and when we do does that person's respective sport do anything?The WWE will pay for drug rehab and counseling for any current or former performer.
It sucks but Leben put himself into this mess and has no one to blame but himself.
RyannVonDoom - Since zuffa loves to rip off the wwe.. Should probably do what they do with their former stars who have problems, help them with rehab.Or at least DDP yoga tapes.
RyannVonDoom - Since zuffa loves to rip off the wwe.. Should probably do what they do with their former stars who have problems, help them with rehab.You make zero sense when you talk.
bemsqua - No...it's not their job to take care of fighters. Leben's a man and needs to be responsible for his own life/actions. It's a sad story, but he created it. I don't know how much he made in his MMA career, but I'm guessing he made pretty good money. I also thought he had his own school. It's just like any other professional sport that guys have to plan for their life after fighting (opening schools, acting, other ventures, etc). I recently saw a video on Rich Franklin and he's opening juice bars. Chuck got special treatment because he's best friends with Dana. The UFC could (maybe they already do) set up some drug treatment programs for their fighters. Ultimately, it comes down to the individual. Dana can't move out to Hawaii to keep an eye on Leben. Plus, I bet Dana has already tried to help Leben.
You make some good points. I agree, Dana probably has already tried to help Leben. He definitely has a "soft spot" for him based on past chances. Maybe that soft spot is because of TUF1, maybe its because Leben is a decent guy deep down, I dunno, I see both sides when it comes to Chris, I'm just not sure what I would do in Dana's situation.
Actually interesting point about Leben having his own school. I remember hearing that too. But surely if he had his own school, he would have been forced to address the tax issue back then. I would imagine they look into that sort of thing when you are setting up a business.
Rich Franklin has a juicebar
They may not be obligated or anything, but they definitely should. If Chris had become a drug addicted government employee he'd still be set with a retirement pension/insurance for health stuff even after he's done working, but because he devoted his life to martial arts he's not entitled to that? The guy fought for zuffa for 10 years, was the first WEC Middleweight champ, had countless KOTN/FOTN bonuses and brought in tons of new fans by being a very exciting fighter, was an original member on TUF, headlined a euro card when they were breaking into England, etc etc.
Not only ZUFFA, but Dana himself could take <5% of his salary and probably be able to pay for an insurance plan that covers every single fighter under the zuffa banner. If he doesn't want to do that, fine, but he should certainly look for ways to get these guys work with the UFC when they are done fighting. If you think he has personal problems and don't want him doing promotion type work, ok, but someone like Chris would be perfect for a judging/referee role with the AC's.
Plus, if they let him go astray and cut ties and he does something stupid in the media, it doesn't exactly look good on the UFC. It looks much better on them if they help him, plus I think it's less likely he screws up something in his life that way.
Just because the guy has issues doesn't mean he should be a castaway, he devoted his entire heart and soul to the UFC.
Dana probably has helped him behind the scenes with bonuses, things like that. He does help guys out behind the scenes. It's not his obligation, but he seems to take care of the guys he likes.
Lux Fixxins -Someone asked a question and I answered it.stevekt -What's your point?Hired Gun - Does any other League/Sport take care of athletes after they stop competing? How often do we hear about a former athlete homeless and when we do does that person's respective sport do anything?The WWE will pay for drug rehab and counseling for any current or former performer.
It sucks but Leben put himself into this mess and has no one to blame but himself.