Opinion: Le Could Energize UFC

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If there is one tempting commodity that Strikeforce was never able to fully utilize, it was former middleweight titleholder Cung Le. That’s because the dynamic San Shou champion simply was not as active as fans would have liked, preferring instead to take breaks, film movies and generally live the good life as opposed to going full-time to train for MMA. That may change, given Le’s statements in an interview with Fighthype.com last week, during which he expressed his interest to compete again.

“I would like to have a couple fights in the UFC ...,” said Le, adding that his contract with Strikeforce was a “little different” than that of most fighters. “... so I’m down to fight anyone if it’s going to be exciting for the fans to watch.”

Translation: if you offer me a wrestler who plans to lay-and-pray me to death in my UFC debut, don’t bother calling, Mr. Joe Silva. Otherwise, we may be able to talk business.

Now 39, Le (7-1) has been all but inactive since his blowout of Frank Shamrock in 2008, when he steamrolled the former UFC champion, broke his arm and won via technical knockout. Le’s only fights were two exciting scraps with Scott Smith in 2009 and 2010; he lost a thrilling first fight after dominating for two rounds and then enacted brutal revenge in the rematch, punishing “Hands of Steel” in a standup clinic en route to a knockout.

Le remains one of the most exciting standup stylists in the game. Seeing him in the UFC, particularly against someone willing to stand and try to figure him out, would be one hell of a boost for everyone involved.

Jason Probst can be reached at Jason@jasonprobst.com or twitter.com/jasonprobst.