The UFC signs James Toney…really?
By Brandt DeLorenzo on Mar 04, 2010
James Toney
Not long after Dana White blasted an extremely athletic Herschel Walker for fighting in Strikeforce by stating that Walker would “would be the first death in the UFC“, he signed stalkerish, overweight, and washed-up boxer James Toney to a multi-fight deal in the UFC.
Herschel Walker
Which is better? An active ex-football standout who still looks to be in better shape than most UFC heavyweight fighters (and already won his MMA debut) or an aging boxer-turner-stalker who wouldn’t leave White alone at UFC 108?
Granted looks aren’t everything (the perfect example is Fedor Emelianenko), but blasting Walker after he won his fight only to sign someone who has yet to seriously train for anything except punching is just embarrassing.
No, signing someone who hasn’t seriously trained isn’t a freakshow. Nope, not at all. Let’s just keep saying this over and over about James Toney (but not Walker, even though he has been training) so we believe it, right? Why was Kimbo Slice forced to go through The Ultimate Fighter before being signed? He’s in much shape, physically (and probably mentally, based on his statements about still wanting to learn and train to get better and better) and has trained with world renowned fighter and trainer, Bas Rutten.
So what the hell is the UFC turning into? Even Strikeforce turned down Jose Canseco, someone who could be sorta considered a MMA fighter after stepping into the cage (and losing) to Hong Man Choi. White throws out insult after insult at competing organizations, but it seems that White is the one signing freakshow fights these days. Forget Walker being the first death in the UFC, I see Toney getting smashed into oblivion after getting taken down in the first 10 seconds of a fight.
So, who is next to get a shot in the largest MMA organization without any training? Actually, please don’t answer that.
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Toney fought in September and is the current IBA and NABO heavyweight champion. James Toney is the single best boxer to ever crossover to MMA and has fought for a living for the better part of his life. That’s different than Walker with his taekwondo and football career and definitely different than Canseco, a publicity hound who fought another freakshow in Hong Man.
I like your writing man but this is at the very least intriguing and certainly less a freakshow than DREAM and Strikeforce’s past offerings, at least in my humble view. Then again, I love boxing so take that for what it is. We will see.
My view here: http://kaseydriscoll.wordpress.com/2010/03/04/james-toney-and-ricardo-mayorgo-boxing-and-mma-square-off/
Kasey, I can agree that Toney was a great boxer, in the past at 160lbs and 168lbs. Since his move to heavyweight, he’s fought a lot of other unskilled fighters and holds titles with wins over which notable fighters? Holyfield in 2003?
Toney in MMA, and in the UFC no less, is a joke, plain and simple and I’ll stand by that. It also hurts when White talks trash about other guys who have trained TKD and MMA who want to fight after they have been training for more than a couple months, if at all. When did Toney start his MMA training, after UFC 108? I’m hoping White just shoves him on the undercard of some Fight Night card where he’ll get smashed and receive no publicity for it.
Yes, Dream lives off freakshow fights, but Japan has always done this and everyone knows it. it’s a part of their culture and they are able to sanction mis-matched fights. Strikeforce just recently denied Canseco, a great move on their part and allowed Walker to fight in the past, only after he showed his physique and training was up to par to fight.
When Toney shows us that he even has a ground game, I’ll eat my words. Until then, he won’t last against anyone who can duck their head, run, and take him down. And that’s probably 99% of all MMA fighters.
I’ve changed my opinion about boxing a little bit lately and I enjoy watching live fights, but I can’t see boxers doing well in MMA if they don’t train properly.
Edited: I just read a good part of your article as well. The signing of Mayorga against Din Thomas isn’t as controversial because promoters from Shine fights haven’t come out to blast other ex-athletes, only to sign a boxer who has admitted to starting his ground training.
But honestly, let’s face it – Toney and Mayorga are both just in this for money, not to further their fighting careers. Walker donated his earnings, will they do the same?
I agree, Toney only has a punchers chance in MMA and that is only until he is taken down. The wrestlers in the heavyweight division look especially powerful. However, the longer a top boxer like Toney works on his sprawl and ground defense the more time he has on his feet. I wonder about a 41 year old guy for a lot of reasons in that respect. He’s training with the right people at least.
In terms of the MMA Vs. Boxing debate in general this will answer some questions, especially for those fans of both sports.
Brandt read Hypocrite in the dictionary man.
Because I don’t agree that Toney belongs in the UFC? Why does a washed up boxer with brain damage belong in MMA? And why did Dana White even sign him after saying Walker would die in the octagon?
Ray Mercer former boxing heavy weight champ knocked out Tim Sylvia in 10 seconds during a MMA fight, sylva only got one kick in then lights out.
Very true. It was agreed to be a boxing match, then it was turned MMA two days after.
http://www.mmafighting.com/2009/06/11/ridiculous-tim-sylvia-vs-ray-mercer-fight-now-mma-not-boxing/
And what about Kimbo Slice vs. Ray Mercer?
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=DahOLe5z3Ek
yea that fight wasn’t good at all for mercer but his skills werent’ as sharp in that fight. He supposedly didn’t train for to long. Toney is just so sharp and clean that I think they will be too much for who ever he fights except for couture, I think he will be to tough cause of his ground game and his experience with stand up fighters. I think toney will win and it wil be a quick fight.
I wish the UFC hadn’t signed Toney.
However Toney is an accomplished fighter. So I don’t see this signing any different than I would the UFC signing some BJJ black belt with next to no stand-up.
Hey Matt, I see your point.
This is from a FightOpinion commentor regarding Toney’s mental and physical capacity to fight:
“James Toney was on ESPN Outside the Lines on January 21, 2007, where he essentially admitted that he was using hormone therapy (the reason he tested positive for roids against Ruiz) because repeated traumatic brain injury had led to Hormone Deficiency Syndrome.”
Yea his failed drug tests is part of the reason I wish they never would have signed him.
Overall I think the negatives of signing Toney far outweigh the positives.
I have a hard time accepting any comparison of signing Toney to the signing of Herschel Walker on any level though. Herschel was a professional football player that retired years ago. Toney has been a professional fighter for a very long time and is still actively looking for fights. I just don’t see a legitimate comparison given their respective past.
You have a very good point – there is no difference in the UFC signing a Champion Boxer, than a Brazilian Jiu Jitsu ace or an NCAA wrestling Champion.
We have a couple boxers at Premier Martial Arts Austin, TX that are a lot scarier than any jiu jitsu player I’ve seen lately.
Can you name a grappler/wrestler in the UFC that has absolutely 0 striking experience?
Not an insult, just a question!
The problem with this is that the UFC doesn’t sign Brazilian Jiu-Jitsu aces or NCAA wrestlers until they’ve had at least a couple of fights.
They used to (Randy Couture, B.J. Penn), but it hasn’t been a serious practice since Zuffa took over the company.
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