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Yoshihiro Akiyama vs. Chris Leben

Chris Leben

TRAINING: My day starts about 8:00am, I usually eat oatmeal for breakfast and I may go out for coffee with my wife (no cream no sugar). My strength and conditioning starts at 9:30am at Raines Fitness and it usually lasts until about 11:30 or 12 depending on what we're working on that day. That's only about 2 blocks from my house, so it's nice, I can just walk home and my wife usually has lunch ready: onions, garlic, Okinawan sweet potatoes, chicken. If I don't have any calls to make or anything going on, I might be able to get an hour of video games in before I take a nap from 2pm - 3pm. Then I head into my gym, meet my coaches, Chris West & Carl Barton, then they debrief me on what the workout is going to be for the day. They take care of my training partners and what I'm going to work on and do. I just have to show up. Usually I get out of the gym by 6pm, stop by the store for some fresh vegetables and meat for dinner, go home, cook, maybe get a massage, watch a little TV. 930-10pm it's bed time.

When and why did you start training for fighting? I've been talking about MMA since I was in the seventh grade. The first day I walked into Team Quest was the first day I started training full-time to become a pro fighter.

What ranks and titles have you held? Sportfight, WEC, and Gladiator Challenge.

Do you have any heroes? No.

What is your favorite technique? Putting the stamp on kids!

What does it mean for you to fight in the UFC? It's a lifetime achievement. It's definitely one of my lifelong dreams coming true.

Did you go to college and if so what degree did you earn? No.

What was your job before you started fighting? Painting and construction.