22-fight UFC veteran Chris Leben comes out of retirement to sign with Bellator

Chris Leben

In a week that included the signing of former UFC and WEC champion, as well as a veteran heavyweight, Bellator added another big name to its roster on Friday.

Former UFC fighter Chris Leben (22-11 MMA, 0-0 BMMA), who has been retired for two years, will come out of retirement to fight for Bellator. Promotion President Scott Coker announced the news on Friday night’s edition of “Inside MMA” on AXS TV.

Earlier this week, Bellator signed former UFC and WEC lightweight champ Benson Henderson, who will fight for the welterweight title in April, and it signed Russian heavyweight Sergei Kharitonov. The Leben signing, though, came as a bit of a surprise since he wasn’t really on the radar as wanting to make a comeback.

“He’s got some physicals to pass, but pending the passing of all his physicals, he’ll be a Bellator fighter,” Coker said. “From the very beginning, we made a public statement that we’re looking for the best free agents that make the most sense for our roster. … We have a great roster in place, we’re building fighters from the ground up, and when the free agents we want are available, we’ll go after them, as well.”

Leben, a cast member on the first season of “The Ultimate Fighter,” most recently fought at UFC 168 in December 2013, where he suffered a TKO loss to Uriah Hall when he retired after the first round. That setback was his fourth straight and fifth in five fights, and the following month he announced his retirement from the sport.

Leben won six post-fight bonus awards while in the UFC, but also tested positive on two occasions for banned substances, including the steroid stanozolol after a loss to Michael Bisping at UFC 89. He also was twice arrested for DUI and admitted an addiction to painkillers and alcohol. He entered rehab in 2012 and spoke about a transforming his life upon returning from a one-year suspension in December 2012.

At the time of his retirement, Leben sounded certain his decision to walk away from competition would stick. But two years later, he apparently has changed his mind – and changed his mind about only fighting in the UFC.

“You kind of know when it’s time,” he at the time he hung up his gloves. “And having been with the UFC for so long, if I’m not fighting in the UFC, I’m not fighting. Also, I’m not afraid to admit, we all have our time in the light. And it’s my time to move on to different endeavors.”

For more on Bellator’s upcoming schedule, stay tuned to the MMA Rumors section of the site.