UFC debut gone wrong! When boxer James Toney got ragdolled fighting veteran Randy Couture in biggest MMA promotion
Legendary Boxer James Toney tries MMA only to be ragrolled by Randy Couture
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Couture and Toney before ttheir fight (Image Courtesy - MMA Mania)
Any boxer of supreme quality making the transition to MMA should be applauded, but it will not always be favourable for them. This is the lesson Combat Sports World learned when the legendary James Toney took on “The Natural” Randy Couture at UFC 118. Couture did not take any chances. He immediately went for a takedown and submitted Toney in the very first round.
The grappling-heavy style of Randy Couture was always too much for MMA fighters, and it seemed to be overwhelming for a professional boxer making his MMA debut. Toney was immediately taken down and gave up the mount position immediately because of his experience fighting on the ground. Couture landed some heavy ground and pound and submitted Toney with an arm-triangle choke.
James Toney as a boxer is no joke. He has won World Championships in three weight classes as a boxer and amassed a record of 77 wins and 10 losses. He was a defensive boxer who utilised counter-punches to throw his opponents off their games. He transitioned to MMA at a very late stage in his career, and with no grappling experience, it would always be hard for him to make an impact in MMA.
Remember that time the UFC let boxer James Toney fight Randy Couture? pic.twitter.com/0exAKd9W4R
— Bloody Elbow (@BloodyElbow) February 21, 2023
UFC didn’t do James Toney any favours either by giving him the former heavyweight and light heavyweight Champion Randy Couture as his opponent. Couture has a wrestling-heavy style that can outwork opponents on any given day. He would have a better chance if Toney fought a striker rather than a wrestler. At the same time, Toney’s efforts should be applauded.
James Toney’s Debut Gone Wrong Proves Why MMA is the Toughest of All Combat Sports
Mixed Martial Arts competition requires a mastery of two or more martial arts to attain victory. Having defensive and offensive abilities over a few martial arts can be the winning formula. James Toney was a boxer with no offensive or defensive wrestling abilities.
Any other boxer, kickboxer, or jiu-jitsu athlete transitioning over to MMA requires mastery over other martial arts to succeed – the likes of former Champions Daniel Cormier and Kamaru Usman are prime examples. They were college wrestling athletes before making the transition to MMA. They had to work on their boxing and kickboxing skills to become the champion in their division. Combining their world-class wrestling with their striking skills makes them a dangerous opponent for anyone, which is also the reason for their success.
James Toney’s experience shows all the fighters wanting to transition to MMA that you need more than just one martial art skill to succeed. Mastering other forms of combat fighting can help one go a long way, which is why MMA is the most challenging combat sport.
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Gerard Crispin
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