James Toney signs with UFC!

[Kakutogi-Gumi]

and what message is that?

He's obsolete and he's going to prove it.

It'll probably be the same thing as Hughes/Royce.

[Eric Holder]

Toney should try and choke someone out via gogoplata

[87 Crosby 87]

Its going to be exciting IMO. Id say more boxing fans will go out and watch UFC just to see how James does. Good Luck James

[Kakutogi-Gumi]

http://www.bloodyelbow.com/2010/3/3/...gn-james-toney

It certainly isn't because he's a world-class MMA fighter. So what could be the potential reasons? Let's run through the most likely possibilities:

1. Like the UFC did with Shamrock vs. Ortiz 1 and Royce Gracie vs. Hughes, the UFC will on occassion book mismatches to prove a point about the latest iteration of top-shelf MMA fighters competing when there is public misperception. In both the case of Shamrock and Gracie, there was a lingering belief among casuals that their era of competitors and their skill sets were tantamount to the most evolved, most technical fighters of the present day. White & Co. knew bettern but had to prove the most recent UFC product was the best. Boxing has had something of a resurgence or at least re-popularization of late although even without the resurgence the overall point of boxing vs. MMA (even though the odds are hardly fair) still holds sway. With the booking of the first major boxer to crossover into the MMA "big leagues", the UFC could be attempting to make an example of what is highly likely to be Toney's absymal MMA skill set.

2. The Herschel Walker effect. As White has curiously remarked (it makes perfect sense to me), ESPN and many in the traditional sports establishment still won't pay attention to MMA or the UFC, yet will when one of their favorite sons from another, more established sport gets in the mix. Toney is hardly as beloved as Walker, but the interesting mix of a former high-level boxer throwing his hat in the (ostensibly) top shelf MMA ring creates a new magic worthy of eyeballs from the same group. And if we refer to the first point, with their attention and a likely butchering of Toney at the hands of what should be a more than competent wrester, White could be killing two birds with one stone.

3. I don't find this particularly likely, but White could actually be curious about Toney's ability. Greg Savage Tweeted that Toney has been working (albeit on fundamentals) with Juanito Ibarra in recent weeks. In fact, I saw with my own eyes and heard with my own ears Dana White tell Chad Dukes and Lavar Arrington Toney had been training in secret for quite some time. For anyone who takes elite-level MMA training seriously that still doesn't mean much of anything, but who knows what machinations lurk in the hearts of MMA fight promoters?

[Pirao]

You know what, I'm stcking by Toney. He will hopefully learn some basic moves to defend and utilise his boxing skills to KO people.

Boxing is better than the UFC to me, and in the ring, a prime world class boxer beats any UFC champ.

Boxing has more people, and more quality fighters and athletes IMO.

Toney has the power to hurt any man alive, and with the 4 ounce gloves, he's gonna break his own hands.

100k on Toney to KO any UFC fighterhe faces.

Man up MMA Bitches.

If I had that much, I would accept that bet, but I'll bet what I have if you want, deal?

[jedihillis]

Toney doesn't stand a chance against any serious HW. As a big UFC fan, I am somewhat disgusted by this decision. Hopefully Toney will have to work his way up and not just get promoted as the next big thing.

[fathergll]

Toney doesn't stand a chance against any serious HW. As a big UFC fan, I am somewhat disgusted by this decision. Hopefully Toney will have to work his way up and not just get promoted as the next big thing.

Why do you care that much? Let the guy fight...your not telling me you wouldn't be intrigued to watch him in there? You got to be kidding me. Everyone here is going to want to see that. A fight is a fight and MMA is the sport of fighting.




If he gets destroyed then so what? If he wins then guess he belongs in there. Whats the big deal?

[fathergll]

He just hustled UFC bigtime, he has no MMA skills whatsoever!

Care to explain to us how he hustled the UFC? UFC's goal is to make money...if they make money off of him then how the heck would he be able to hustle them?

Believe me Dana White is a bit smarter than you think. They know what they are doing with Toney

[ИATAS]

Care to explain to us how he hustled the UFC? UFC's goal is to make money...if they make money off of him then how the heck would he be able to hustle them?

Believe me Dana White is a bit smarter than you think. They know what they are doing with Toney

I say that because James Toney is a shot fighter and has absolutely zero MMA skills and yet he was able to TALK his way into a multi fight contract with the UFC. He can't even sell tickets in boxing, and all of a sudden, he's the talk of both boxing & mma.

You're right though, I'm sure UFC will make some money off him and maybe dana has a plan, but there is potential of this being a huge flop, he could get beat in seconds in his first fight and all of the hype and curiosity will be over and he'll still be under contract for more fights. Too me, Toney is just after the money and hustled his way into a contract by talking **** and making noise.