Wicked Awesome MMA Tattoo: Chris Leben's Sleeve

Chris Leben has accomplished 3 things with his UFC Career: A lengthy highlight reel, peeing in someones bed on national television and gradually becoming The Illustrated Man. This is not about KO's, submissions or bunk bed toilets. It is about tattoos and in my eyes, Chris Leben's best tattoo is his right sleeve.


pic credit: heavy.com and mmamania.com


pic credit: mmaweekly.com

This tattoo has absolutely fantastic shading and color contrast. It is in tune with his dedication to being a martial artist and not simply just a "fighter". It is a great piece to compliment his samurai on the back and his phoenix on his left arm.

The artist did a great job making the colors pop and have texture and depth without resorting to hard lines and using a ton of black. It does appear there is more work to be done up around the shoulder judging by the amount of negative space and the row of cherry blossoms. Given his two gigantic paydays over the summer when he finished both Aaron Simpson and Yoshihiro Akiyama in the span of two weeks, I'm sure next time we see Leben we will also see the final product of this Wicked Awesome MMA Tattoo.