UFC boss optimistic for Chris Leben's retirement – once 'The Crippler' pays his taxes

NEW YORK – It turns out Nick Diaz isn’t the only UFC veteran who didn’t make paying taxes a priority.

UFC Present Dana White today revealed that recently retired middleweight contender Chris Leben fell behind on his taxes during his professional fighting career and is working to get current on his bill.

“Chris Leben had some minor tax issues, which he is getting cleared up – minor in that he never paid his taxes,” White told MMAjunkie. “He’s getting that cleared up.”

The 33-year-old Leben (22-11 MMA, 12-10 UFC) first emerged on the national stage in 2005 as a troubled but tough competitor on the inaugural season of “The Ultimate Fighter.” He would go on to fight for the promotion 22 times, in 2006 serving as future UFC Hall of Famer Anderson Silva’s first octagon opponent and racking up four “Knockout of the Night” and two “Fight of the Night” bonuses.

His brawling style made him a fan favorite throughout his tenure in the promotion, but after a 1-5 run in the octagon, Leben recently decided to call it quits and focus on coaching in his adopted hometown of San Diego, Calif.

The UFC boss declined to reveal just how much Leben owes the government but suggested it wasn’t exactly a small sum.

“Couple bucks,” White deadpanned. “Imagine never paying taxes and making a lot of money, how much that would be. That much.”

Despite the initial hurdles, White said he believes Leben will still enjoy a positive retirement experience, once he gets his financial responsibilities under control.

“I owe him a phone call,” White admitted. “He got a job, and he’s doing great.”

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(Pictured: Chris Leben)