Cung Le is 'at a crossroads' in his career

by James Iannotti on Jun 25, 2008 11:34 PM EDT Comment 74 comments

Cung Le

Quoteworthy:

"I just landed a big movie role with Dennis Quaid and Ben Foster. It's been pretty exciting for me. I didn't even get the role for my fighting abilities. I actually auditioned and I got it off straight acting. (It's not based on martial arts) it's science fiction. So far, the two movies that I did had fighting. They were saying that's the best fight scene and they're actually going to send it in to see if that fight scene gets best fight scene of the year with me and Channing Tatum. I feel like I still got a couple more good fights in me but at the same time I have to be smart. I'm at a crossroads. There's a lot of great fighters out there. Of course, there's the great Anderson Silva but that matchup doesn't seem like it's ever going to happen. He's UFC, I'm Strikeforce. In the meantime, my next opponent is this movie. It's an opportunity where I get to carry the action the whole movie and have a lot of acting. I've done a lot of fighting and I've done a lot for martial arts, but I'm sure if I get taken away for a couple of years or for good ... it's all pretty much in God's hands right now."

Strikeforce Middleweight Champion Cung Le talks about his acting career taking off in a big way during a recent interview. The mash up quote above is a combination of things he said in the interview, rather than an answer to just one question. However, the gist is that he's considering taking on acting full time and taking a step down from competing in mixed martial arts sometime in the relatively near future. Le will also play Marshall Law in the big screen version of the popular video game, Tekken, which is done filming and set to come out next year. There's no word yet on when he will defend his new 185-pound title for the first time. Get him back in the cage ... fast.

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Comments

I hope he doesn’t take a Randy Couture Road with all this movie business and strays away from fighting.

by c-war on Jun 25, 2008 11:37 PM EDT reply actions 0 recs

Well, he hasn’t backed out of his contract and decided that he’s the number 2 ranked fighter in the weightclass after beating a glorified can.

by NameNotRequired on Jun 26, 2008 1:25 AM EDT up reply actions 0 recs

I second that motion… Since when is he the second coming to Anderson Sliva? He has one good win and now starts ranting about there is nobody left for him to fight. Give me a break.

by Robert on Jun 26, 2008 9:08 AM EDT up reply actions 0 recs

he never said there was nobody left for him to fight… he said, “There’s a lot of great fighters out there.”

all of his fights were good wins (as opposed to bad wins?) If you mean he only has one win over a high profile/experienced fighter, then i’d agree with you.

personally, i don’t think he is anywhere in the same league as anderson silva but i think his point is that he can’t fight ufc fighters and that’s where most of the good fighters are.

by rhv on Jun 26, 2008 1:34 PM EDT up reply actions 0 recs

Rich Franklin would hand Lee his head on a platter.

by THORAZINE on Jun 26, 2008 6:08 PM EDT up reply actions 0 recs

cung needs to keep fighting.

i like the idea that he is doing movies as well

but he could do both.

he does not need to stop fighting.

i hope he decides to keep fighting.

i got to see him fight earlier this year when he won the mw title.

this is a guy i would go and watch every time he fights.

i got to meet this man! he is a striaght ninja!

by ~Stinky~fingers~ on Jun 26, 2008 5:35 AM EDT up reply actions 0 recs

EXCLUSIVE- afflicton banned- update.

yeasterday they pulled vernon white off the card cause he tested positive for something illegal in another fight.

so lil nog had no opponant.

the affliction guys pulled through and kept lil nog on the card.

replacing vernon tiger white with

edwin baby face dewees.

not to bad.

by ~Stinky~fingers~ on Jun 26, 2008 7:00 AM EDT up reply actions 0 recs

EXCLUSIVE-rumor bout for ufc july/19 event.

jesse taylor has been added to the ufn.

dana is going to ask cb dollaway to fight taylor.

by ~Stinky~fingers~ on Jun 26, 2008 7:25 AM EDT up reply actions 0 recs

I’d like to see that fight. I hope CB loses again.

by Haze on Jun 26, 2008 9:09 AM EDT up reply actions 0 recs

If Cung Le stops fightin it will be a real shame!

Lil Nog vs. Dewees is still interesting. Im betting my house on LIl NOG!!!! No way Dewees can defend all the submission attempts. Standing, I think Nog’s boxing is stronger thhen Edwin’s. LIL NOG is the betting LOCK of JULY, along with Rampage!

AS for Jesse Taylor vs. CB Dollaway! Its a good idea, but not good enough to keep my from watching AFFLICTION!!!

by John on Jun 26, 2008 9:44 AM EDT up reply actions 0 recs

Rampage the betting lock of July? Get a grip! You could say that Forest is the underdog, but Forest dismantled Shogun and Shogun DOMINATED Rampage. So on paper…

by Nokimono on Jun 26, 2008 11:07 AM EDT up reply actions 0 recs

I already bet $500 on Rampage! U willing to do the same with Forrest? Doubt it!!!!!

All u hanging on to Forestt’s nuts as if he actually deserves to be fighting for the title in the best division in all of mma, back it up! Lay some money on Forrest. Odds are in your favor not mine!

I have wagerd $1,200 on Rampage that will win me $500….I would like to see one of u wager $500 on Forrest, talk is cheap, head over to BetUS, lay a $500 on Forrest and show me how confidant u r that he will win the title. BTW, %00 on Forrest wins about $1,500….anyone going to do it?>

by john on Jun 26, 2008 12:23 PM EDT up reply actions 0 recs

I would like to know what line of work your parents are in that you can dip into your trust fund whenever you want for these bets…

by OJR on Jun 26, 2008 12:59 PM EDT up reply actions 0 recs

i bet 15,000 on rampage

and a 40,000 parlay on

joe daddy-big dog-rampage.

also single bets on

10,000 on justin mccully.

5,000 on lytle and aurelio.

save your smack talk for after the fights when ur all telling me how great i am at gambling.

by ~Stinky~fingers~ on Jun 26, 2008 1:34 PM EDT up reply actions 0 recs

Are you willing to bet. Shut the f up. I bet that I will watch it.

by dtrain on Jun 26, 2008 1:36 PM EDT up reply actions 0 recs

Actually OJR, my parents are dead.I am a college student that has custody of my 16 year old sister! Not sure who the F you are calling a trust fund baby because my life is a constant grind! I started my betting account with $200, and after some savvy mma betting, I can afford to bet money like this!!!! Get your facts straight!

by john on Jun 26, 2008 2:01 PM EDT up reply actions 0 recs

well im not nuthuggin on forrest nutz but i put 100 down on forrest to win. not that i cant back it up. just extar money i thought i coudl spend…might as well try to triple it right? and as for your statement about griffin not deserving of a title. blame that on the ppl that nut hugged shogun so much and over hyped him to be the best! if t wasent for they hype griffin ouldnt have gotten his title shot…jardine hadnt beat anyone neither up until lidell…he outpointed lidell. forrest finished shogun. i say he is deserving just as much as jardine was.

by santiago69us on Jun 26, 2008 2:55 PM EDT up reply actions 0 recs

Actually,

That post was meant as a joke.

I don’t know how you figure that I would know about your parents or why being a trust fund kid is bad.

Your arrogance offsets any sympathy on my part.

But I do admire your MMA knowledge…

by OJR on Jun 26, 2008 3:40 PM EDT up reply actions 0 recs

What will I ever do without your sympathy?

by john on Jun 27, 2008 10:15 AM EDT up reply actions 0 recs

Yeah, I dont get these guys…they train their whole lives to be fighters and then as soon as the money is starting to get better…bang they up and leave to be a movie star…LAME! Im sure Chung THINKS he is a good actor but shit he isnt fooling me out of 12 dollars! If he needs a change then come over to the UFC and get your fight with Anderson Silva!

by WarriorCenter on Jun 25, 2008 11:58 PM EDT reply actions 0 recs

I think he’s being smart. if he’s able to land in a movie where he has more of a lead acting role, why on earth would he continue to fight? he’s already 36, he’s getting old and securing his future. I say all the good to him.

PS: he’s right about the spider, he’ll never get to fight him because dana will never make that happen (but that fight wouldn’t go past the first round anyways, cung le has nothing on the spider).

by linx on Jun 26, 2008 6:59 AM EDT up reply actions 0 recs

I don’t know about that one , Linx. If Silva keeps the fight via stand-up I give Cung a 50/50 shot of taking Silva down. I saw Cung fight before his entrance into MMA. He is phenomenal.

by OJR on Jun 26, 2008 9:00 AM EDT up reply actions 0 recs

Linx: Any idea how many fights he has left on his strikeforce contract?

by John on Jun 26, 2008 9:45 AM EDT up reply actions 0 recs

I have no idea John.

by linx on Jun 26, 2008 10:41 AM EDT up reply actions 0 recs

one fight left.

by ~Stinky~fingers~ on Jun 26, 2008 1:36 PM EDT up reply actions 0 recs

Thanks stinky. do u know if his contract automatically extends itself as long as he holds the title (thats what the UFC’s contracts do).

by john on Jun 26, 2008 3:08 PM EDT up reply actions 0 recs

LINX dana wouldnt make it happen cuz le doesnt deserve a title shot w/ a.silva. if le signed w/ the ufc he would have to fight a couple of top ten contenders, one of wich would surely put him on his back and might expose him. stop defending this guy! he doesnt deserve it. i have no ill will towards him, if he doent like being punched in the face or punching people in the face he should retire from mma and start acting. he was great at san shao, but dont confuse him w/BRUCE LEE. rich nade a movie, but is still fighting. alot of ufc fighters have made or been in movies and still fight cuz thats what they are fighters. how does dana have anything to do w/this. blame lorenzo(lol).

by b.w on Jun 26, 2008 10:06 AM EDT up reply actions 0 recs

b.w., if a. silva was able to speak english fluently, and had the potential to make it big in holliwood, I’d say more power to him. Fighters are not always going to be fighters, there will come a time where they’ll need to hang up the gloves willing or not, and if any of them can secure a good future outside of fighting than I say do it. I want to see them succeed inside the ring and out. We’re fans of them, we should want all the best to them, not look down on them if they decide to do something else.

by linx on Jun 26, 2008 10:46 AM EDT up reply actions 0 recs

maybee, maybee not. im just too hardcore of a fan i guess. i think anderson would remain a fighter no matter what, but your right i dont know that for a fact. i just dont think its time for le to hang-em up. imo he should have left andesons name out of it unless directly asked.

by b.w on Jun 26, 2008 11:43 AM EDT up reply actions 0 recs

also he is using mma as a springboard to acting so he does owe the sport something.

by b.w on Jun 26, 2008 11:44 AM EDT up reply actions 0 recs

yeah but you never know when opportunity is going to knock on the door. if he waits five years will the door still be open? it might not…

BTW, I consider myself a hardcore fan as well, but sometimes we need to look at things from the fighter’s perspective and not ours as fans.

by linx on Jun 26, 2008 11:51 AM EDT up reply actions 0 recs

i know your hardcore dude! we just dont agree on this partcular subject.

by b.w on Jun 26, 2008 12:35 PM EDT up reply actions 0 recs

I think he is being smart thinking about his life as a whole rather than a piece at a time.

by DJ on Jun 26, 2008 8:15 AM EDT up reply actions 0 recs

I think they call that being a sell out.

by KneeToTheFace on Jun 25, 2008 11:58 PM EDT reply actions 0 recs

I call it being smart.

by linx on Jun 26, 2008 7:00 AM EDT up reply actions 0 recs

I’m with you linx.

Jeez, I can’t believe guys are hating on Le for wanting to go into movies.

Lets look past the haze in front of peoples eyes and evaluate what a fighter is passionate about first and foremost, THEMSELVES!! and so it should be.

by Automation on Jun 26, 2008 7:43 AM EDT up reply actions 0 recs

Yea, more power to him, but do we realy need more Jackie Chan’s or Jet Lee’s? More movies were the the fighter kick’s everybodys ass.

by JV on Jun 26, 2008 11:20 AM EDT up reply actions 0 recs

you don’t like jackie chan movies??? Jackie is the man!

by linx on Jun 26, 2008 12:01 PM EDT up reply actions 0 recs

I actually do linx. But I dont think we need anymore than there is allready.

by JV on Jun 26, 2008 1:33 PM EDT up reply actions 0 recs

forbiddon kingdom

was off the chain

son.

jet and jackie together makes 4 a great movie.

i loved the part when jet pissed on jackie in the desert.

and their 1st fight in the temple was insain.

by ~Stinky~fingers~ on Jun 26, 2008 1:39 PM EDT up reply actions 0 recs

how is that being a sellout? if you had the choice you would do the samething he is and not a person on this planet can say they wouldn’t and be serious

by randy murders on Jun 26, 2008 12:04 AM EDT reply actions 0 recs

That’s disappointing. This guy makes a big spash in MMA, but truly hasn’t even been tested(if only F.Shamrock would have tried to take him down like they do in MMA). Now he’ll get a few movie roles in but the novelty will wear off, and it will be too late. His fighting years will be over. He is starstruck, and a sellout. Really, he’s too old to get into acting. It’ll be shortlived.
If he wanted to fight Anderson Silva, he could leave Strikeforce and hop over to the UFC. But he doesn’t want to do that.

by jess on Jun 26, 2008 12:18 AM EDT up reply actions 0 recs

I like Cung Le and I’m sure he’s a great actor with a talent for that. But like I said, it’s selling out. If he goes into acting that makes him an actor, not a fighter. He effectively is selling his career as a fighter. If it was the other way around he’d be selling out acting. If Tony Jaa were to start doing MMA he’d be selling out his acting career. It’s nothing particularly negative but a fact of what is happening.

That said, it makes me very sad to see this because I love to watch him fight. He is an even more exciting fighter than Machida with a similar style (obviously they have different ground credentials) that not many utilize.

by KneeToTheFace on Jun 26, 2008 1:08 AM EDT up reply actions 0 recs

Your idea of selling out is misplaced.

Selling out means that you compromise your integrity for financial gain.

Cung has already given most of his life to combat sports.

At the age of 36 he is setting himself up for a future beyond physical competition.

Cung does not owe anybody anything.

by OJR on Jun 26, 2008 9:07 AM EDT up reply actions 0 recs

OJR, very well said, it is a compromise of integrity that defines a sell-out.

by IhitU.uHITfloor on Jun 26, 2008 9:20 AM EDT up reply actions 0 recs

Cung le is new to MMA.
He hasn’t proven himself.
He wouldn’t be in Hollywood if it wasn’t for Strikeforce.
And now he wants to stop fighting once he gets a little fame.

That sounds like a loss of integrity to me.
He’s selling out ‘plain and simple’.

It’s probably a smart decision on his part though. Becouse he has no ground game, and at his age he doesn’t have much time to learn it anyhow.

We’ll look back on this and see Cung Le as just an exellent stand-up fighter who got out of MMA before he was tested.

by jess on Jun 26, 2008 9:29 AM EDT up reply actions 0 recs

I can be completely serious and say that if I had an undefeated record and as much potential as Le I would do everything I could to be considered the best. Acting would be there when I’m done. All this tells me is that he’s not confident enough in his skills.

by Nokimono on Jun 26, 2008 11:19 AM EDT up reply actions 0 recs

Also the insanity going on that he can take silva will live on. Imagine nuthuggers claiming that if he was still fighting how he would dominate any middleweight that has/will ever exist.

by NameNotRequired on Jun 26, 2008 12:07 AM EDT reply actions 0 recs

sounds like he needs dana’s “do you wanna be a f$cking fighter” speech.or does he wanna be a d-level movie actor. acting is much easier money than mma, so it shows what he’s really made of. he’s in his fighting prime and he wants to act instead, give me a break. at least randy is in his 40s and is already in the hof. if he wanted to fight silva so bad,he shouldhave signed with the ufc. im sure there were offers, but he took the easier road (and money) with elite.

by b.w on Jun 26, 2008 12:32 AM EDT reply actions 0 recs

He needs to finish his contract win what ever fights he has left come to the ufc and fight Anderson get whooped badly then stop fighting for good.

by Khaos_WArrior on Jun 26, 2008 12:38 AM EDT reply actions 0 recs

this guy isnt even a good fighter

beating an old washed up frank shamrock is probably the biggest thing that will ever happen for him

to retire now could be a smart move if there is easy acting money else where

the problem is that the offers will only keep coming for a short while after you stop fighting (or may continue if you are actually good at it)
if you go on a losing streak then the offers evaporate
if you dont fight for a few years people will forget who you are

andersson silva would maul him
it would be a HL reel KO in under 1 round
id be tempted to put a bet on that AS would finish him in under 2 minutes

the lack of pay and all the sacrifices these guys have to make means that those whose heart isnt fully in it will fall by the wayside

i can fully see how acting seems like an easy pay day compared to fighting and its completely upto him if that is the path he wants to follow

his fans should appreciate the fights he has given them and support him in his future endeavours

by slickric on Jun 26, 2008 1:38 AM EDT reply actions 0 recs

He will be a international famous movie star.

In Asia.

Tekken is huge in China and Japan, to most people in North America its just a fighting game.

In Japan, there is a pretty decent following. If anything this will pave the way for a great negotiation with WVR or Dream in the future.

I hope he sticks to fighting as other have said, rather than embellishing himself in an acting career. Do both, but don’t give up what got you there in the first place.

by DirtyML on Jun 26, 2008 2:20 AM EDT reply actions 0 recs

I think he’d be crazy to ditch fighting. Why not slowly take on movies and maintain your profile as an elite fighter? It’s easy, you simply take a little bit of time in between your fights etc. He hasn’t established himself enough to get much done in movies unless he’s a really good actor, but like someone above mentioned, I’m not about to get duped out of $12 to find out.

by dave on Jun 26, 2008 3:00 AM EDT reply actions 0 recs

jet li, jackie chan and chuck norris. no more karate stars needed.

by bradpittfightclub on Jun 26, 2008 3:20 AM EDT reply actions 0 recs

chuck norris still makes movies?

by linx on Jun 26, 2008 7:03 AM EDT up reply actions 0 recs

could he beat Anderson….

by DanP on Jun 26, 2008 5:10 AM EDT reply actions 0 recs

who? chuck norris?

by xCarlosx on Jun 26, 2008 11:07 AM EDT up reply actions 0 recs

He heard you and is now standing right behind you.

by PJJ on Jun 26, 2008 2:58 PM EDT up reply actions 0 recs

Chuck Norris doesn’t throw up if he drinks too much. Chuck Norris throws down!

by PJJ on Jun 26, 2008 3:00 PM EDT up reply actions 0 recs

Chuck Norris once tried to sue Burger King after they refused to put razor wire in his Whopper Jr., insisting that that actually is “his” way.

by PJJ on Jun 26, 2008 3:01 PM EDT up reply actions 0 recs

Chuck Norris? Hell Yeah!

by Nokimono on Jun 26, 2008 11:21 AM EDT up reply actions 0 recs

Make lots of money getting your face smashed in, or make lots of money not getting your face smashed in. Sounds like a difficult choice to me as well! Cung Le is no spring chicken, and he knows it. It’s look after number 1 and no matter what you say that is what the majority of people would do. His next fight could be the one where he ends up getting a severe injury and then everything goes out the window. As a fan I would love to see him carry on fighting but I can see it from his point of view as well. If Dana and the UFC cross promoted we could have seen Randy v Fedor as well Cung Le v Silva which I would have loved to have seen, but as long as they priority is trying to control the whole industry and not look at what’s good for MMA and the fans which is what they keep on telling us, then it is never going to happen. Good luck to him.

by Ade on Jun 26, 2008 5:53 AM EDT reply actions 0 recs

Yea he should keep fighting, because that’s who he is. Just cause he started doing a couple movies doesn’t suddenly make him a movie star. He made his name being a professional fighter so why would he want to walk away from that???

by Ballam on Jun 26, 2008 8:48 AM EDT reply actions 0 recs

It’s not in god’s hands now Cung…It’s in your hands.

by tripleainto on Jun 26, 2008 8:50 AM EDT reply actions 0 recs

It’s better than working for Gary Shaw, I would do hemroid cream comercials brfore I’d work for Elite XC.

by Ro-J on Jun 26, 2008 9:27 AM EDT reply actions 0 recs

Yeah, I’m actually thinking about finally taking them up on their offer to be a spokesperson. I’ve been a client for so long…

by dave on Jun 26, 2008 9:57 AM EDT up reply actions 0 recs

Nooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooo!

by Nokimono on Jun 26, 2008 9:32 AM EDT reply actions 0 recs

Cung knows whats best for him… these guys will do what they make the most money on! thats just how it is there’s not enough money in MMA

by RoB on Jun 26, 2008 9:48 AM EDT reply actions 0 recs

He is better off doing movies, who wants to watch him fight.

Really he would be killed vs Henderson or Silva hell anyone who was willing to fight him on the ground and push that posititon.

Shamrock was a dumb A$$ trying to prove something.

It wasnt mma.

by Yikes on Jun 26, 2008 10:15 AM EDT reply actions 0 recs

This guy wouldnt last 2 minutes vs
Henderson, A Silva or GSP.

Go to the Movies.

Shamrock didnt even try to fight a real mma battle with you it was a game of tag.

by Yikes on Jun 26, 2008 10:24 AM EDT reply actions 0 recs

“There’s a lot of great fighters out there. Of course, there’s the great Anderson Silva but that match up doesn’t seem like it’s ever going to happen. He’s UFC, I’m Strikeforce”…..
Rough translation- Anderson would kick the shit out of me in less than 5 mins and expose me for the overrated carried fighter that I am so i’m going to carry on fighting no-hopers and past it guys in my crappy losers division under this crap promotion!! :)

by MrAngry on Jun 26, 2008 3:31 PM EDT reply actions 0 recs

Exactly right MrAngry…he had his hands full with a one armed, washed up, couldn’t beat Renzo Gracie, Frank Shamrock; how on earth would he beat the spider?

by RedDog on Jun 26, 2008 8:30 PM EDT up reply actions 0 recs

haha you know he doesnt really wanna fight silva.

by AzCombat on Jun 26, 2008 11:08 PM EDT reply actions 0 recs

when I saw the cung vs shamrock fight I was an instant fan. I think the sidekick will be the future of MMA and I guess I’m really a fan of the sidekick. Now that I see Cung isnt fighting im f’n pissed. Dont pull a Jordan and try out baseball, you were put on this earth to fight and you’ll be sorry in 5 years when want to comeback and arthritus is setting in

by the chosen one on Aug 4, 2009 5:16 PM EDT reply actions 0 recs