Issue 158

September 2017

Randy Couture: MMA

James Toney: Boxing

James ‘Lights Out’ Toney was the first world-class boxer to fight in the UFC. He was also undoubtedly the most talented man to make the jump from his sport into MMA.

He was a defensive master and former lineal middleweight champion and made a lot of noise – including calling Dana White a “straight-up ho” – to get his chance in the Octagon.

The trouble was, when he signed up to fight Randy Couture at UFC 118 he was a long way removed from his prime and more familiar with fast food than training.

He was 42 years old and 237lb, with no idea about what grappling or kicking involved.

When the UFC president asked if he’d worked on leg kicks, he responded: “Front kick, back kick, all that…Side check kick.”

Predictably, Randy Couture took him down after 15 seconds with one of the most telegraphed single-legs ever seen in a cage, then beat him mercilessly for three minutes and choked him out.