August 28th brings us a promotional rarity from the UFC; Randy Couture (17-10) vs. James Toney (0-0).
While some of the older fans of mixed martial arts are likening it to the early days of the Ultimate Fighting Championship, I'm not alone in declaring this match a complete and total freak show. The days of single styled fighters going at it in the Octagon are long gone, snuffed out with the destruction of Royce Gracie by Matt Hughes in 2007.
James Toney has a very good boxing career, holding several titles in several weight classes over the years. But to think that a 41 year old boxer who has never stepped foot in the Octagon can knock out an elusive Greco-Roman wrestler such as Couture is defying the odds on a level I don't think anyone will go out on a limb for. As a boxer, Toney has trained for years on how to best unload knockout punches on an opponent with no threat of being taken to the ground or kicked. Toney is the kind of fighter who is heavy on his feet while throwing punches, and I see Couture using this to his advantage in getting the fight to the ground, where his considerable experience will pay dividends and result in a first round stoppage due to strikes or submission. Even though Toney appears to be putting in a diversified training camp for this fight, I don't see him closing the experience and talent gap that Couture will have on the ground and in the clinch. Besides, at 41 years of age...Toney is going to be a long shot at proving that old dogs can learn new tricks.
Despite being 47 years old when he steps in the Octagon on the 28th, Randy Couture (17-10) is still a very elusive, very fit, very talented fighter. Despite his lackluster win over Brandon Vera at UFC 105, Couture rebounded with a very dominant showing against the questionable Mark Coleman at UFC 109. Despite this, I believe Couture still has the ability and talent to be a top five Light Heavyweight fighter and I'm looking to see a strong showing from him against Toney in Boston at UFC 118. The only question left is to see what the UFC lines up for him next once he finishes Toney. I personally would like to see him match up against Forrest Griffin or Rich Franklin for his next 205 bout, and perhaps the winner of the Lyoto Machida/Rampage Jackson fight if he defeats Griffin or Franklin. All in all I would say Couture is two or three wins away from another title shot at 205. Make sure you check back for continued UFC 118 analysis and if you are free the 28th, order UFC 118 on Pay-Per View.
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