Cung Le Youtube Videos
Cung Le Bio
Cung Le (Vietnamese: Lê Cung, born May 25, 1972) is a Vietnamese American Sanshou kickboxer, mixed martial artist, and actor from Saigon, Vietnam currently competing in the UFC. He is the former IKF Light Heavyweight San Shou World Champion and has a professional San Shou record of 16-0 before moving to mixed martial arts (he also held an undefeated kick-boxing record of 17-0). He defeated Frank Shamrock to become the second Strikeforce Middleweight Champion before vacating the title to further pursue his acting career.
Early life
Cung Le was born in Saigon, Vietnam (now Ho Chi Minh City, Vietnam). In 1975, three days before the Fall of Saigon, Cung Le and his mother Anne left Vietnam by helicopter under heavy gunfire. He ended up in San Jose, California where early racial bullying inspired him to learn martial arts. His mother enrolled him in Taekwondo classes at the age of 10. Le has disciplines in a variety of martial arts, and was undefeated as a professional kickboxer with a record of 17 wins and 0 losses. He is a three time world champion in kickboxing and also coaches his own team, which is now 11–0 in team competition.
Le began wrestling competitively at age 14 after being inspired by his all time favorite actor Sylvester Stallone in Rocky 1 and earned All-American Honors in his Junior year of High School. He went on to wrestle for West Valley College in Saratoga, CA and won the California Junior College State Championship in the 158lb weight class in 1990.
Sanshou career
Le is undefeated in his professional Sanshou career (16–0). He has won three US Open International Martial Arts Championships (1994, 1995, 1996). In 1998 he won the Shidokan tournament championship. 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 Sanshou world competition compiling an overall amateur record of 18–3. 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 International Kickboxing Federation Pro Light Heavyweight San Shou World Title. In May 2003, Le entered into K-1 competitions where he garnered a 3–0 career record, including 1 knockout.
Mixed martial arts career
Strikeforce
Le made his mixed martial arts debut at Strikeforce: 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. Le first met Altman in San Jose, 1999 in a kickboxing bout where he defeated Altman via a body shot in the third round. Three months later he faced KOTC veteran Brian Warren, knocking him out at 4:19 of the first round. Le had also faced Warren in a K-1 Sanshou bout where he won by decision. At Strikeforce: Triple Threat on December 8, 2006, Le defeated UFC veteran Jason Von Flue in 0:43 of round 1 when the fight had to be stopped due to a cut from a kick strike. Le went on to fight Tony Fryklund who had just suffered a spectacular loss to Anderson Silva. Like Silva, Le beat Fryklund via TKO due to strikes late in the third round. Soon after Le fought Sammy Morgan at Strikeforce: Four Men Enter, One Man Survives where he won the bout via TKO.
On March 29, 2008, Le defeated a long time MMA veteran Frank Shamrock 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 the new Strikeforce Middleweight champion.On September 17, 2009, Strikeforce CEO Scott Coker announced that Le had relinquished his belt after securing a major motion picture deal.
After 21 months since his last fight Le returned to Strikeforce to face Scott Smith at Strikeforce: Evolution on December 19, 2009. Le suffered his first MMA defeat, losing via KO at 3:25 of round 3. After the match, Le expressed interest in an immediate rematch with Smith. His wish was granted on June 26, Strikeforce: Fedor vs. Werdum in which Le defeated Smith via KO into the second round to avenge his only MMA loss at the time.
Ultimate Fighting Championship
Le has said that it’s basically the UFC or bust for him at this point in his fighting career. “I know for a fact that if I do fight again, it’s going to be in the UFC. I’ve never fought in the UFC, but I would love to fight in the UFC. But right now because of my contract with Showtime and Strikeforce, hopefully things can work out because there is a show in San Jose that Cain Velasquez is the main event. I would love to fight in San Jose for the UFC....” said Le.
Le was briefly linked to a matchup with Vitor Belfort on November 19, 2011 at UFC 139. However, Belfort was removed from the bout and replaced by Wanderlei Silva. Le managed to confuse Silva with his unorthodox kicks, and landed a spinning backfist that dropped Silva. During the second round, Silva managed to shake Le with huge punches and knees. Le was shaken and fell to the ground, and the fight was stopped by the ref. Commentator Joe Rogan commented that this was a "bad stoppage", as Le seemed to be in the midst of regaining his senses after the fight was stopped. Afterwards in the press conference, Dana White commented that it was a good stoppage and that Cung was taken to the hospital.
Cung Le is now scheduled to fight Rich Franklin at UFC 148.
Acting career
Le co-starred in the live-action Tekken film, based upon the popular martial arts fighting game, as Marshall Law, released November 5, 2009 for the American Film Market. Le had supporting roles in the science fiction film Pandorum with Dennis Quaid and Ben Foster, and Fighting, released in 2009 alongside Channing Tatum. He also starred in a Hong Kong martial art film Bodyguards and Assassins, which was released on December 18, 2009. This film was the first time he worked with and had a fight scene with Hong Kong martial arts superstar Donnie Yen.
He also appeared in a Vietnamese music show "Paris By Night 99 - Tôi Là Người Việt Nam" where he was interviewed by Nguyen Cao Ky Duyen. This show also marked one of the few times Le has spoken Vietnamese on camera.
Le is set to play a lead role in the upcoming action film Dragon Eyes with Jean-Claude Van Damme, produced by Joel Silver. According to Deadline, the movie will be based on the Akira Kurosawa classic Yojimbo and will be "MMA-themed".
Personal life
Le has two sons with his ex-wife. He and his second wife Suzanne were married in August 2009. The couple had their first child together, a boy named Robert Eric Le, on June 21, 2010.
Championships and accomplishments
Amateur wrestling
- California Community College Athletic Association
- CCCAA State Championship (1990)
- CCCAA All-State (1990)
- West Valley College Wrestling Team Captain (1990, 1991)
- Amateur Athletic Union
- AAU Espior Freestyle National Championship (1989)
- AAU Espior Greco-Roman National Championship (1989)
Kickboxing
- International Kickboxing Federation
- IKF Sanshou World Light Heavyweight Championship
- International Sport Karate Association
- ISKA Sanshou North American Light Heavyweight Sanshou Championship
- ISKA Sanshou U.S. Light Heavyweight Championship
- ISKA Sanshou U.S. Light Cruiserweight Championship
- Ho Tet Tae Kwon Do
- Ho Tet Tae Kwon Do Tournament 1994 Grand Champion
- World Wide Draka Federation
- 1998 Draka Tournament Winner
- Shidokan Cup Bare-Knuckle Full Contact Karate
- 1998 Shidokan Cup U.S. Tournament Winner
- World Wushu Championships
- 1999 WWC Sanshou Bronze Medalist
- 1997 WWC Sanshou Bronze Medalist
- 1995 WWC Sanshou Bronze Medalist
- Black Belt Magazine
- 2007 Kung Fu Artist of the Year [2]
Mixed martial arts
- Strikeforce
- Strikeforce Middleweight Championship (One time)
- Ultimate Fighting Championship
- Fight of the Night (One time)
Submission grappling
- Amateur Athletic Union
- AAU Espior Sambo National Championship (1989)
