...OH, ONE MORE THING - PLEASE BOOKMARK US & VISIT DAILY!
By: Jamie Penick, MMATorch Editor-in-Chief
"I'm still doing both [boxing and Muay Thai training]. I have a coach for each style and I think you need tools from both of them. You just need to be able to plug them in with the appropriate opponent. Boxing wise, for this fight it's more about the defense, the footwork, and the angles than it is about the exchanges and the combinations. I don't need to get into big fire-fights and try to box it out with James, that would be stupid. But I do need to know where he's coming from and what kind of combinations he's trying to throw, and the way he's going to move and set up his punches, where his jabs are coming from. So I've been working with my boxing coach to focus on those areas. He's teamed up with my thai coach because the boxing stance presents particular vulnerabilities, especially with kickboxing... I've only heard stories [about Toney's trash talking]. I haven't really watched or listened to any of it, and I don't intend to. It all boils down to fight night walking out there and doing what you've trained to do. That's all that really matters. The rest of it's just a bunch of crap."
-Randy Couture talks to SBNation.com about readying for his UFC 118 fight with boxer James Toney, and ignoring the trash talk that Toney has come out with heading into the fight.
Penick's Analysis: Randy's an extremely cerebral fighter, and it's something that has brought him such longevity in the sport at the high level he's maintained. Obviously it would be stupid of him to try to box with Toney, but he is clearly being smart about his preparation. I really just don't see Toney doing anything that Couture won't be ready for, and it should be "The Natural" coming out of UFC 118 the victor.
RELATED STORY: UFC QUOTABLES: Kenny Florian discusses his striking and wrestling improvements heading into UFC 118 bout with Gray Maynard: [CLICK TO READ FULL ARTICLE]
[Randy Couture art by Cory Gould (c) MMATorch.com]
DON'T GO YET... WE SUGGEST THESE MMATORCH ARTICLES, TOO!
Jamie Penick, editor-in-chief
(mmatorcheditor@gmail.com)
STAFF COLUMNISTS: Shawn Ennis - Jason Amadi
Frank Hyden - Rich Hansen
Chris Park - Matt Pelkey
Interested in joining MMATorch's writing team? Send idea for a theme to your column (for Specialist section) or area of interest (i.e. TV Reporter) along with a sample of writing to mmatorch@gmail.com.
