Cung Le: How He Stacks Up Against 10 UFC Middleweights

Cung Le is now officially fighting in the UFC.

Many have waited and now speculate on the potential matchups at 185 lbs. How would he do against Chael Sonnen? How would his striking match with Vitor Belfort? Could he be the one to dethrone Anderson Silva?

These are brief looks at how Cung Le stacks up against 10 different middleweight fighters in the UFC.

These fighters are not listed in any particular order, besides the Champion being last. 

10. Vitor Belfort

First and foremost, Cung Le will make his debut against Vitor Belfort. This fight is maybe one of the most exciting matchups for Le in the Middleweight division, and it will be the first one as he is thrown into the fire.

The reason this is an intriguing fight is that both are phenomenal strikers in their own regard. Vitor carries power in his hands, which he has shown with four out of his last five fights ending with a victorious KO. Cung Le poses a different problem with his leg strikes.

If Le can keep his distance in this fight and use leg kicks, he could keep the “Phenom” at bay.  Cung Le will try to recreate what Anderson Silva accomplished and follow in his footsteps…literally. 

9. Demian Maia

Demian Maia is probably one, if not the greatest, threat to a UFC fighter once he gets them on the ground. He is a master of Brazilian Jiu-Jitsu and very few survive after spending time with Maia on the ground. Recently though, Maia has been improving his stand up greatly.

Becoming a more well-rounded fighter is crucial for him, since he is up against some very balanced fighters in the Middleweight division. Against Cung Le, he may very well have trouble with Le’s strikes. But if he can put Le on his back, it may be a short night for the Vietnamese fighter. 

8. Mark Munoz

Mark is an excellent wrestler, but has the ability to finish you with his hands as well. This well-rounded wrecking machine has the ability to take the fight where he pleases and hold his own once there. Many do not know that Le himself used to wrestle as well. It is no secret his kickboxing is his most notable asset, but he is no stranger to the mat. This is one of the most well-rounded matchups he may have in the UFC. 

7. Michael Bisping

Aside from Munoz, Bisping in another fighter to posses a very well-rounded skill set that would stylistically match up well with Le. Bisping comes to brawl, and will add pressure to his opponent. This of course can get him in trouble, but as with Silva or any other great striker, putting pressure on them before they can set themselves up is highly recommended.

Bisping’s jiu-jitsu has not been the finishing move of choice for “The Count,” but he has it in his arsenal. Bisping would very much like to take Le to the ground, but would not be opposed to standing and banging with him. 

6. Jason Miller

A colleague from Strikeforce, Jason “Mayhem” Miller brings a particular threat to Cung Le. His striking can hold him over, but his submission game can work over any of his opponents. Submitting guys like Sakuraba in the first round of a fight makes a great statement to your abilities. If Miller isn’t able to finish Le, he will most likely give him a great fight to the end. Seeing the two former SF competitors fight in the UFC would be a great fight to hype, and would deliver on a true “mixed” martial arts bout. 

5. Chris Leben

Leben comes to knock you out—plain and simple. He's not opposed to the ground game, but his fists do the talking. Over half of his wins are by KO/TKO, and his chin is one of the most durable in the business. Le’s leg strikes are fantastic, but against a guy who has a granite chin, he better hope Chris’s liver is hanging around that day.

Leben has been knocked out before but only twice in his career—once to Brian Stann, and the other to Anderson Silva. Le will need to keep the pressure on Leben since Leben will be coming forward right through Le, and he doesn’t mind taking some hits on the way through. 

4. Brian Stann

Brian Stann is a guy you can never count out in a fight. He is a warrior that has continued to evolve and looks for new challenges. A determined Stann can do wonders, as he proved by knocking out Chris Leben, only one of two times anyone has ever scored a KO/TKO on The Crippler. With heart and determination, Stann could very well give Le a strong striking battle. Le’s chin hasn’t been tested too often, but anyone should be wary of the power in Stann’s hands. 

3. Yushin Okami

After his fight with Anderson Silva, many are starting to question whether or not Okami was ready for such an excellent striker. Anderson landed a head kick flush to Okami which seemed to be the start of the end for the Japanese contender. Le’s kicks are quick and precise, making him a very credible threat to Okami. Okami would once again want to use his wrestling, but it would be a matter of if he could be fast or aggressive enough to get Le on the ground. 

2. Chael Sonnen

Chael Sonnen poses a big problem for anyone he fights, due to the relentless nature of his fighting. Leg strikes typically require some sort of setup or process, especially spinning back kicks as thrown by Le. This is a moment where their guard is down and they are usually left open to counters or takedowns if they miss their mark.

Chael Sonnen’s pressure will be a huge deciding factor in how effective Le’s striking will be. Also, leg strikes typically require the fighter be on their own two feet and not their back, which Chael will most likely put them on. If Cung Le can master the triangle before a potential bout with Sonnen, he increases his chances greatly. 

1. Anderson Silva

As with any fighter, the Champion is the one to beat. Anderson Silva poses a problem though…he hasn’t allowed anyone to beat him and take his throne since stepping in the Octagon. Arguably the most talented striker and MMA fighter in MMA, he has very few weak areas of his game.

His takedown defense and balance sometimes work against him, but even off his back he can win the fight. With Le vs. Anderson Silva, you get two of the most incredible strikers in the sport. The ways things are going, it will be a fight for the Middleweight Championship as well.

The big draw of the Anderson Silva vs. Demian Maia fight was that Maia was the new Royce Gracie of the generation as mentioned before. The fight pitted the best striker vs. the best jiu-jitsu artist. If Silva faces Le, expect punches and kicks to be accurate, precise and deadly. Le just needs to be mindful of not pulling a “James Irvin” when throwing those kicks.