[BigBanda]

Source: UFC blog for UFC news, results, videos, rumors, fights, pics and tickets — MMAmania.com

MMAmania.com just learned that middleweight fighter Chris Leben was today sentenced to 35 days in jail. No other details were available at this time.

“The Crippler” turned himself in to the Clackamas County Sheriff’s Office in Portland, Oregon, on April 30 because of an old Driving Under the Influence (DUI) probation violation.

His release is set for May 27, 2008 (he gets credit for time already served), which gives him only 12 days until his scheduled showdown with Michael Bisping at UFC 85: “Bedlam” at the O2 Arena in London, England, on June 7.

There’s no word yet on whether or not the UFC will look to replace Leben or if he’ll remain on the card. Stay tuned for more details.

EDIT FOR UPDATE:

Chris Leben issued jail time, UFC 85 bout scratched (updated) | MMAjunkie.com

UFC middleweight Chris Leben today was sentenced to 35 days of jail time (and credited for eight days' time served) following last week's arrest for a probation violation, according to a representative from Oregon's Clackamas County Sheriff's Office.

However, Leben's UFC 85 bout with Michael Bisping now appears unlikely to take place. The bout was set for the televised main card of the June 7 event.

MMAjunkie.com (UFC blog for UFC news, UFC rumors, fighter interviews and event previews/recaps | MMAjunkie.com) could not immediately reach Leben's employer and friend, T. Jay Thompson, for comment. UFC officials have yet to comment on the matter.

Leben turned himself over to Oregon authorities last week. Leben moved to Hawaii in 2007 to serve as an instructor at Thompson's ICON Fitness facility, but his request to transfer his probation (stemming from a 2005 DUI arrest) was denied. Thompson told MMAjunkie.com last week that Leben decided to take the job anyway since he felt Hawaii would provide him the "fresh start" he needed.

A bench warrant was ultimately issued, and when Leben was added to London's UFC 85 fight card, he knew that getting a visa would require a resolution to the situation.

He turned himself into authorities on April 30 and was sentenced today. Once the jail time is served, Leben will no longer be on probation.

Last week Thompson told MMAjunkie.com that he and Leben were optimistic that no additional jail time would be issued and that they'd make the UFC 85 fight date.

Leben (18-4 MMA, 8-3 UFC), 27, most recently defeated Alessio Sakara in March at UFC 82. After Chuck Liddell was forced to pull out of a UFC 85 main-event bout with Rashad Evans, the UFC booked fights between Leben and Bisping, as well as Matt Hughes and Thiago Alves. The popular fighter found his way to the UFC via the first season of the UFC reality series, "The Ultimate Fighter."

(Update: According to Wrestling Observer, UFC matchmaker Joe Silva has confirmed that the Leben-Bisping bout has officially been postponed.)