...if he authorizes the proposed James Toney vs Randy Couture match-up at UFC 118. To me, that's like Chris Leben or Tito Ortiz right now moving into boxing and being matched with Bernard Hopkins or Evander Holyfield in their very first pro fight. In other words, it just would not happen, because it's utterly ridiculous. Randy Couture has so, so much experience and such a wide, strong skillset. To put a rank novice in terms of MMA in with such a guy is a suicide mission, he is going to completely and utterly dominate and humiliate Toney from the very first bell. How the hell can a guy who beat Brandon Vera and went to points with Big Nog not long ago realistically be matched with someone who has never even had a single fight before? The only answer can be that White wants to punish Toney for his mouth and make an example out of him to show the fans that boxers can't just walk into MMA and be successful. Which I think is absolutely shameful because Toney is an overweight 40 year old with no experience, and should not be used in this way. Repulsive. :-(
Im going to assume you're not being facetious. As Dana made it very clear during the PRIDE era that he hated freak shows. But his world heavy champ is a former WWE standout at 4-1 and now he's sanctioned Toney Vs Couture.
Yes but with Lesnar you can say he has a great wrestling background which is more suited for MMA then boxing and he did have 1 MMA fight before coming in. This is a true freakshow and so is hyping Kimbo as a triple main event when they didnt even do that with the scheduled Fitch vs Alves rematch last month.
I say it's good. I am sick and tired of boxers running their ****ing mouth about how MMA fighters have no skills and can't fight. Let him fight Randy. Randy fought Vitor Belfort in his third fight. Brock Lesnar fought Frank Mir in his second fight. Forrest Griffin fought Dan Severn in his first fight. This isn't boxing. The UFC has no interest in padding the record of an aged Toney by giving him multiple gimme opponents. Toney has achieved the highest level of success in his martial art and because of this he gets a chance at a good fighter in his debut. If Randy pounds him down I say that's what he gets for opening his fat mouth. If Toney wins I say GOOD he is a fighter with real MMA potential. ****, Randy Couture is 142 years old anyways. I say that this is a fight that, as a fan, I will gladly pay for.
Agreed. But it still stands to reason that there "champion" in their glamour division is a guy who was a WWE wrestler and a mere 4 - 1. Plus the way he has back peddaled on Kimbo after all the **** he gave EliteXC not cool.
Which other fighters with "great" boxing backgrounds have ever even attempted to transition into MMA. I agree 100% that wrestling is better, but let's give boxing a chance. No boxer as accomplished as Brock Lesnar was at wrestling has ever attempted to fight in MMA (unless you count the Ali Farce, or the 300 year old Mercer). Allow boxing to prove itself in the cage.
Well for me the previous job Lesnar had dont mean much. Everyone has to have some previous job. Ive decorated Donuts, cleaned toliets etc and id hope if I where to ever win a MMA Championship it wouldnt make me look all less of a Champion. Lesnar is 4-1 but lets be real first off he shouldnt even be fighting some of those guys considering he has like 50 pounds on most and hes not naturally that size anyway and he hasnt even really faced the best. Couture and Mir where good Heavys but not as good or should I say great as Fedor or even Barnett.
I am against the idea of freakshow matches as well, but in this case I'm all for James Toney getting his ****ing ass handed to him. So I'm happy with this matchup. I actually wish he would've put Toney in there with Lesnar or Carwin
It's a big risk by White. UFC has had its criticisms recently and if Randy wrestles him down and submits him / ground and pounds him to an easy win (as expected) then it's another dent in the reputation of the UFC as a serious sport. On the other hand, if Toney clocks him and takes him out (you never know!), then things get really intruiging !
If Toney went in there and KOed Randy its gotta hurt MMA's crediblity big time. Then that argument of well high level boxers will never do well agianst MMA guys in a MMA fight because a boxer will have KOed one of the ATG Champions in Randy. Right now alot goes back to the Sylvia-Mercer fight but luckily for MMA fans they can point out Kimbo-Mercer where a bum like Kimbo was able to choke out Mercer with a really bad Guillotine. Toney pulls off an upset the whole world will see that and it will make MMA look like a ****ing joke. I wouldnt even risk it.
If Toney stalked me incessantly for a contract because he isn't doing **** with his boxing career, jawing constantly about how he can knock out ANYONE in the UFC and they're garbage fighters and all that other ****, I'd do the same exact thing.
if Toney kos couture...oh well..he's never been known for his solid chin , plus he's in he's 46... If Couture takes Toney down at will & finishes him by tko or ud...oh well...it's not like it would be a huge embarrassment for boxing since Toney isn't a wrestler nor a bjj artist... I think think both mma & boxing fans should enjoy this ridiculous matchup...i mean relax...it's not for the belt...just entertainment. The reason why Dana went ahead with this one is because he knows (and we know)...that the curiosity factor alone = huge ratings.
