Former pro boxer James Toney has signed a multi-fight contract to compete in the UFC. The promotion’s president, Dana White, confirmed the signing on Wednesday with MMAFighting.com after the news was first reported by FiveOuncesofPain.com.
Details of the contract, as well as Toney’s first bout with the promotion, were not immediately available.
The 41-year-old former IBF middleweight and super middleweight champion has publicly campaigned for a shot in the Octagon since late last year. Toney attended back-to-back UFC events in November and December, and video of White and Toney in impromptu discussions even surfaced online.
In early January, White said he was cautious of the prospect of allowing a pro boxer to enter the UFC ranks.
“(Boxer) Zab (Judah’s) like, ‘Man, you need to teach these guys how to box. You need to teach them this, that, and everything,’ but these guys don’t understand,” said White. “You don’t balance your weight the same way you balance your weight in boxing. You’ll get that front leg kicked off into the eighth row somewhere if you distribute your weight the same way they do in boxing. There’s an education process there for these guys that I learned the f—ing hard way. I went in and got choked out and kicked in the leg and all the stuff that happened to me when I started.”
White said he was unsure if promoting a pro boxer would translate well into pay-per-view buys. White was also aware of the potential backlash that could come with the move.
“I got blasted this week? Let me make this fight. Then I’ll get blasted from her to-- I’m the first guy out there going, ‘This is a f—ing freak show. Who would put on a fight like that?’” said White. “But I gotta tell you this. I’ve always wanted to see a guy–(Toney’s) a guy I actually respect. He’s tough as nails. He’s mean. He’s nasty. (But) he better get in shape if he wants to come in here and do this stuff.”
Toney’s flirtation in the UFC has been ongoing. In October 2006, former UFC champion Randy Couture said he was called by the promotion with a potential bout against the pro boxer that never came to fruition.
Lesnar appears to be way smaller than he was before his health issues, look at his arms now, way smaller than before.
He says he’s still 280 pounds, I’m not so sure.
Some card for tonights UFC, Kongo v Buentello, Gonzaga v Dos Santos and the main event Brandon Vera v Jon Bones Jones.
Can’t wait for that one, should be a barnburner. Vera is overpriced at 21/10 so I stuck 25 on him. I’m not confident though but I like the matchup, style wise it should suit him. I’d have him at 6/4 myself if I was pricing it so can’t resist the value.
:o :unsure: :blink: Are you serious? he won the first 3 rounds 10-9,the fourth was split and Edgar won the fifth 10-9.It’s the challenger who must do more to beat the champion.There is war on all the major MMA sites over it,shit judging is becoming more common now especially since the Machida-Shogun fiasco.
According to who?
I don’t think he won 50-45 like one judge but I think he was the more active fighter and his victory while tight was merited.
BJ didn’t look that interested and took the most punishment and was also taken down.
It is nothing like the Shogun fight.
Shogun won that fight by a mile.
[quote=“cluaindiuic, post: 128496”]
According to who?
I don’t think he won 50-45 like one judge but I think he was the more active fighter and his victory while tight was merited.
BJ didn’t look that interested and took the most punishment and was also taken down.
It is nothing like the Shogun fight.
Shogun won that fight by a mile.
[/quote]Oooh how i miss Pride,Anderson Silva never acted the cunt while he was there,Dana White blowing him off calling him the p4p best in the world(Fedor clearly is)doesn’t help things either,the UFC needs some serious changes both in and outside the octagon.
A few cracking prices have appeared lately for MMA fights on Boyles. They usually cut them though so should be snapped up straight away. I did a load of bets a few weeks ago when I spotted the over inflated odds(in my opinion)
I have 50 on Evans to beat Rampage at EVS, now 10/11. The nearer this comes though, the less confident i am for some reason.
45 on Jardine to beat Hamill at 13/10.
Also 20 double Evans to beat Rampage EVS and Jardine to beat Hamill 13/10.
5euro accum Jardine win 13/10
Evans win EVS
Akiyama to beat Wandy 11/8
Chuck to beat Rich 6/5
The Akiyama and Jardine prices are way off the mark, Belcher beat the tar off Akiyama and couldn’t ko him so Wandy won’t and jardine should have way too much for Hamill unless he gets clipped in the first round. Seems his chin is always suspect until he gets warmed up. Franklin lit Hamill up with striking and body kicks and i expect jardine to win this fight using his leg kicks alone.
[quote=“balloobasluvsbeer, post: 128498”]
A few cracking prices have appeared lately for MMA fights on Boyles. They usually cut them though so should be snapped up straight away. I did a load of bets a few weeks ago when I spotted the over inflated odds(in my opinion)
I have 50 on Evans to beat Rampage at EVS, now 10/11. The nearer this comes though, the less confident i am for some reason.
45 on Jardine to beat Hamill at 13/10.
Also 20 double Evans to beat Rampage EVS and Jardine to beat Hamill 13/10.
5euro accum Jardine win 13/10
Evans win EVS
Akiyama to beat Wandy 11/8
Chuck to beat Rich 6/5
The Akiyama and Jardine prices are way off the mark, Belcher beat the tar off Akiyama and couldn’t ko him so Wandy won’t and jardine should have way too much for Hamill unless he gets clipped in the first round. Seems his chin is always suspect until he gets warmed up. Franklin lit Hamill up with striking and body kicks and i expect jardine to win this fight using his leg kicks alone.
[/quote]+Agree with all except Liddell,Rich Franklin will win easy on pts as Chuck will be gassed midway through the second round,Liddell was a one trick pony who should have retired 3 losses back.Expect the cardio freak that is ace Franklin to pepper the iceman for all 3 rounds,3pt win.
That was a sympathy/sentimental bet Toes, I’m hoping Chuck can land cleanly over the course of the three rounds. Franklins chin is suspect at light heavy and I don’t think he will have the power to stop Chuck myself. I wouldn’t place a big bet on either, that’s the way I see it, only stuck him in the accum for the craic more so than anything hence the fiver invested.
ricardo mayorgas debut fight was called off last week apparently that cunt king still has him under contract for 2 more fights and got some judge to pull the fight and the entire card was scrapped
I know, I was looking forward to seeing how he’d do. The 5times worlds strongest man fought Tim Silvia(2time ufc champ) friday night. He got destroyed, I’ve seen all of his 3fights so far and he has gassed in the first round in them all. He needs to lose a heap of muscle or he’ll never have any cardio.
:lol: For my sins i watched it,Sylvia gave him an awful beat down for the stoppage,i think Shane Carwin will KO Brock Lesnar when they meet as Lesnar is shit on his feet,some people actually think he would destroy Fedor! :lol:
Lesnar will ate Carwin alive I think, two of the most over rated fighters out there. I wish Overeem would join the UFC, he was firing Brett Rogers around the cage like a little toy there about a week ago.
Two more bets I’ve done for Saturday nights UFC is
Bisping to beat Miller on points, 10 at 7/4 and
Bisping/Miller fight to go the distance, 20 at EVS
These were done online so kept the stakes small.
I already have 50 on Evans at EVS in the shop though the EVS is no longer available.
I’ll await the outcome of your bets with interest. I am currently in the process of setting up a sports betting hedge fund and need an unpaid MMA expert.
Unbelieveable I was awful lucky to get the Evans result in, he was rocked and on the verge of going to sleep, nearly shat my pants, just after watching it there, buzzing at the moment.
Three bets and three wins it doesn’t get much better than that, and my double with Jardine still alive as well as my mickey mouse accum…giggity :lol: B)
B) 