Chris Leben returns to the Octagon at UFC 155

Suspended since last November, UFC veteran and fan-favorite Chris “The Crippler” Leben’s timetable for a return to the Octagon has been unknown until now. Leben has apparently finished the rehab program furnished for him by the UFC after failing a drug test for painkillers, and will make his return at UFC 155 to face Czech fighter Karlos Vemola. The fight will round out the six-bout main card, which will take place December 29th from Las Vegas, Nevada.

For Leben, the news is a refreshing departure from the downward spiral he had been suffering after knockout losses to Brian Stann and Mark Munoz and the presence of oxycodone and oxymorphone in his system. Leben has always been a fighter that has thrown caution to the wind, willing to brawl and put on a show for the fans. He has been a mainstay for the UFC ever since his debut on TUF 1, and Dana White has made it publicly known that the promotion has been rooting for Leben to make his return successfully, with a clear head.

His opponent Vemola is coming off a submission loss to GSP’s training partner Francis Carmont, but prior to that he had shown excellent promise, finishing eight of his nine wins. The bout should be a tough return test for Leben, who himself had some impressive finishes before running into Stann and Munoz. The bout rounds out a card that, barring injuries, has the potential to be one of the most stacked events of the year. Here is a complete rundown of the UFC 155 main card:

-Junior Dos Santos vs. Cain Velasquez – Heavyweight title bout

–Tim Boetsch vs. Chris Weidman

–Forrest Griffin vs. Chael Sonnen

–Joe Lauzon vs. Gray Maynard

-Phil De Fries vs. Matt Mitrione

–Chris Leben vs. Karlos Vemola