8 Best Late Comebacks In UFC History

Chris Leben built a legacy in the UFC as one of the most fearless sluggers ever to enter the octagon. Never afraid to rely on his once-granite chin and heavy hands, Leben was involved in some of the most entertaining wars in all of MMA.

Leben epitomised the fight anyone, anytime attitude. Stepping into the fight with Akiyama on short-notice, Leben set a UFC record between fights in the modern era having fought just two weeks prior.

The fight completely lived up to all expectations. Akiyama won the first round, utilising his high-level judo skills to maintain positional dominance on the ground as he unsuccessfully hunted for submissions.

Leben continued demonstrated his zombie-like resilience in the second, stalking forward despite being hit flush with a spinning backfist. The action continued with both men going back and forth, trading violent offence with Akiyama again marginally winning the round as a whole.

Now seemingly two consecutive rounds down, Leben needed a finish to claim victory. The problem was, Akiyama had displayed an iron chin and had never been submitted in MMA.

Until now.

Akiyama appeared conscious of trading any more strikes with Leben and adopted a wrestling-heavy strategy controlling the fight on the ground. Leben remained resilient throughout, and after landing a succession of elbows from the bottom, locked in a triangle choke.

With just seconds in the fight remaining, Akiyama was left with no choice but to submit, giving Leben a classic victory.

Result: Chris Leben def. Yoshihiro Akiyama via submission (triangle choke) – Round 3, 4:40.