| Cung Le | |
|---|---|
 |
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| Statistics | |
| Height | 5 ft 10.75 in (178 cm) |
| Weight | 185 lb (84 kg) |
| Nationality | USA |
| Born | May 25, 1972 |
| Fighting out of | San Jose, California |
| Town of birth | Saigon, Vietnam |
| Team/Association | American Kickboxing Academy |
| Primary fighting style | Sanshou |
| Mixed martial arts record | |
| Wins | 6 |
| By knockout | 6 |
| Losses | 0 |
| Draws | 0 |
Cung Le (born May 25, 1972 in Saigon, South Vietnam) is a Vietnamese American Sanshou practitioner, actor and mixed martial artist fighting out of San Jose, California. He is the current Strikeforce Middleweight Champion.
Contents |
Biography
Cung Le was born in Saigon, South Vietnam. He fled his home country with his mother in 1975 as the city fell to communist rule. He ended up in San Jose, California where early bullying inspired him to learn to fight. His mother enrolled him in Taekwondo classes at the age of 10. Since those first classes he has absorbed a variety of styles, and was undefeated as a professional kickboxer (22-0). He is a three time world champion and also coaches his own team, which is now 11-0 in team competition.[1]
Martial art history
10 years old: Taekwondo for about (1 year). 8 grade to high school: freestyle wrestling. Master Pham: kung fu and tae kwon do, traditional Vietnamese kung fu (2 1/2 years). Ralph and Cesar Gracie: Gracie Jiu-jitsu (2 1/2 months). Sanshou: 1994 until now
Kickboxing
Cung Le is undefeated in his professional Sanshou career (17-0-0)[2]. He has won three US Open International Martial Arts Championships (1994, 1995,1996). He has also won 4 US National Championships (Orlando, Florida 1994, Dallas, TX, 1995, Baltimore, MD, 1997). He earned three bronze medals in his amateur San Shou world competition. He has been a three-time captain of the United States teams that competed and was the U.S. team captain at the World Wushu Championships in 1997 (Italy) and 1999 (Hong Kong). On December 15, 2001 he defeated Shonie Carter by unanimous decision in San Jose, California to win the IKF Pro Light-Heavyweight San Shou World Title[2]. In May 2003, Le entered into K-1 competitions where he garnered a 3-0 career record, including 1 knockout.[2]
MMA career
Le made his mixed martial arts debut at SVE: Shamrock vs. Gracie on March 10, 2006, at the HP Pavilion at San Jose, knocking out kickboxing rival Mike Altman at 3:51 of the first round. Three months later he faced KOTC veteran Brian Warren, knocking him out with a flurry of punches at 4:19 of the first round after the fight backstage fans starting calling him Thunder and Le officially used it as his nickname at Strikefore: Triple Threat.
At Strikeforce: Triple Threat on December 8, 2006, Le defeated Jason Von Flue in 0:43 when the fight had to be stopped due to a cut.
Le defeated a long time MMA veteran Frank Shamrock on March 29, 2008, in a fight co-promoted by Strikeforce and EliteXC at the HP Pavilion in San Jose. Le won via TKO when Frank Shamrocks' right arm was broken after a series of kicks (ulna broken), making him Strikeforce Middleweight Champion.
Acting career
Kung Fu Cinema confirms Cung Le will co-star in the live-action Tekken film, based upon the popular martial arts fighting game, as Marshall Law. The movie has already completed filming, and is set to be released in 2009. Cung Le has also confirmed on November 28, 2008 on Inside MMA that he will star in a supporting role in the upcoming science fiction film Pandorum with Dennis Quaid and Ben Foster. He is set to star in a supporting role in the upcoming movie "Fighting" alongside Channing Tatum.
Championships and accomplishments
| Result | Status | Date | Championship | Weight | Location |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Win | Champion | March 29, 2008 | Strikeforce Middleweight MMA World Champion | Middleweight |  San Jose, California, USA |
| Win | Champion | 2005 | Strikeforce Light Heavyweight Sanshou Champion | Light Heavyweight | San Jose, California, USA |
| Win | Champion | 2004 | ISKA Light Heavyweight K-1 Super Fight Champion | Light Heavyweight | Las Vegas, Nevada, USA |
| Win | Champion | 2003 | ISKA Light Heavyweight K-1 Super Fight Champion(vs. Phil Petit) | Light Heavyweight | Las Vegas, Nevada, USA |
| Win | Champion | 2003 | ISKA Light Heavyweight K-1 Super Fight Champion(vs. Scott Sheeley) | Light Heavyweight | Las Vegas, Nevada, USA |
| Win | Champion | 2001 | IKF Light Heavyweight World Champion | Light Heavyweight | San Jose, California, USA |
| Win | Champion | 2000 | ISKA North American Light Heavyweight Champion | Light Heavyweight | San Jose, California, USA |
| Win | Champion | 2000 | ISKA Light Heavyweight K-1 Super fight Champion | Light Heavyweight | Las Vegas, Nevada, USA |
| Win | Champion | 2000 | ISKA Cruiserweight World Champion(title defense) | Cruiserweight | San Jose, California, USA |
| Win | Champion | 1999 | Art of War Light Heavyweight Champion, China vs. USA | Light Heavyweight | Honolulu, Hawaii, USA |
| Win | Champion | 1999 | ISKA Light Heavyweight Sanshou World Champion | Light Heavyweight | San Jose, California, USA |
| Win | Champion | 1998 | ISKA Cruiserweight World Champion | Cruiserweight | San Jose, California, USA |
| Win | Champion | 1998 | Draka Main Event Champion | Light Heavyweight | Los Angeles, California, USA |
| Win | Champion | 1998 | Draka Under card Champion | Light Heavyweight | Los Angeles, California, USA |
| Win | Champion | 1998 | Shidokan Team USA Champion (vs. Arne Soldwedel) | Light Heavyweight | Chicago, Illinois, USA |
| Win | Champion | 1998 | Shidokan Team USA Champion (vs. Laimon M. Keita) | Light Heavyweight | Chicago, Illinois, USA |
| Win | Champion | 1998 | Shidokan Team USA Champion (vs. Ben Harris) | Light Heavyweight | Chicago, Illinois, USA |
MMA record
| Professional record breakdown | ||
| 6 matches | 6 wins | 0 losses |
| By knockout | 6 | 0 |
| By submission | 0 | 0 |
| By decision | 0 | 0 |
| Result | Opponent | Method | Event | Date | Round | Time | Location | Notes |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Win | Frank Shamrock |
TKO (Broken Arm) | EliteXC / Strikeforce - Strikeforce: Shamrock vs. Le | 3/29/2008 | 3 | 5:00 | San Jose, California |
Won Strikeforce Middleweight Champion |
| Win | Sammy Morgan |
TKO (Body Kick) | Strikeforce: Four Men Enter, One Man Survives | 11/16/2007 | 3 | 1:58 | San Jose, California |
|
| Win | Tony Fryklund |
KO (Punch) | Strikeforce: Shamrock vs. Baroni | 6/22/2007 | 3 | 0:25 | San Jose, California |
|
| Win | Jason Von Flue |
TKO (Cut) | Strikeforce: Triple Threat | 12/8/2006 | 1 | 0:43 | San Jose, California |
|
| Win | Brian Warren |
TKO (Punches) | Strikeforce: Revenge | 6/9/2006 | 1 | 4:19 | San Jose, California |
|
| Win | Mike Altman |
KO (Punch) | Strikeforce: Shamrock vs. Gracie | 3/10/2006 | 1 | 3:51 | San Jose, California |
References
External links
 |
Wikimedia Commons has media related to: Cung Le |
- CungLe.com (official website)
- IKF San Shou
- Professional MMA record for Cung Le from Sherdog
- Le's K-1 Record
- IMDB listing
- [1] Kung fu Magazine: Cung Le, Sanshou's Goldben Boy
- http://www.richmondmma.ca/cung.jpg
| Preceded by Frank Shamrock |
2nd Strikeforce Middleweight Champion March 29, 2008-present |
Current holder |
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