News and Features
11.14.07

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Alex Hinshaw


DAS BOOT: To think Cung Lê was the kid everybody picked on in school. Looks like it's payback time!

Lê Chic

By Felipe Buitrago


IN CASE YOU needed further proof that San Jose offers the best of Vietnamese culture, look no further than the HP Pavilion this weekend. We even have the best Vietnamese mixed martial artists. On Friday, undefeated Cung Lê returns, taking on Sam "The Squeeze" Morgan at the Strikeforce Mixed Martial Arts "Four Men Enter, One Man Survives" event.

A native of Saigon, this Vietnamese-American kickboxer hasn't lost a bout since he made his debut in Mixed Martial Arts at the Shamrock-Gracie fight back in March of 2006. Lê counts with a strong background in Sanshou. Add to that some Vietnamese kung fu and tae kwon do and you have a fine-tuned fighter that lives up to three amateur Sanshou kickboxing bronze medals as well as three-time captain of the U.S. teams that competed in the Wushu World Championships and captain of the World Martial Arts Championships held in Italy in 1997 and Hong Kong in 1999.

Fighting out of Minneapolis, Minn., Morgan carries a record of 18 wins and eight losses, and is certainly a more seasoned fighter in MMA. It goes without mentioning that he didn't earn his nickname by throwing quick jabs or high-flying kicks. Twelve of his 18 wins have been by submission. Two very different men representing very different techniques will be dancing in the ring on Friday. Who will take the fall? If you don't find out, you may kick yourself.


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