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By Frank Hyden, MMATorch Contributor
James Toney has been signed to a multi-fight contract in the UFC? Are you freaking kidding me? The guy has been in over 80 professional boxing fights; that's a lot of mileage. We just saw Antonio Rodrigo Nogueira look old and slow against Cain Velasquez. Nogueira's had 40 MMA fights, and you can see the toll that's taken on his body, and he's only 33. James Toney is 41 years old. Toney used to be a great boxer, now he's old and slow. Transitioning to MMA from boxing is no easy task at any age, let alone 41.
I also find it hypocritical that Dana White criticized Strikeforce so much for signing Herschel Walker, then he turns around and signs James Toney. Herschel Walker is a better athlete now at 48 then James Toney has ever been. That's not a huge slam at Toney, that's how good of an athlete Walker is. Hershel Walker is a better athlete right now than the vast majority of professional athletes in any sport. Walker is almost superhuman in what he can do. I guarantee that Herschel Walker will have a better MMA career than James Toney. I highly doubt either guy will ever come close to a title, but I would bet money on Herschel before I'd bet on Toney.
I don't blame James Toney for wanting to try his hand at MMA. More power to him, I say. The problem I have is Dana White shooting his mouth off like a jackass and calling the Walker signing a joke, then he proceeds to sign an old boxer. Dana claims that this won't be a freak show, and he's right. Toney might have enough in the tank that he'll be able to notch a few wins. Of course, that will require putting him in there with opponents who are willing to stand and box with him. Even then there's a good chance of him getting knocked out.
There's a big difference between getting hit in the face by someone wearing a boxing glove, and someone wearing an MMA glove. This isn't a freak show, but it's damn sure a side show. I thought Dana wanted to legitimize MMA as much as he could. Signing a 41 year old boxer isn't the way to do that. Even if Dana's intention is to sign a former great boxer, then have him get crushed in the Octagon to show that MMA fighters are better than boxers, that's not going to work. If shows like Pardon The Interruption, or Sportsnation even discuss this signing, or the subsequent beatdown Toney takes, it'll only be to joke about it or use it as an example to rag on MMA. They may as well have signed Jose Canseco.
MORE ON THIS TOPIC Read Dana White's quote on this decision and MMATorch editor-in-chief Jamie Penick's analysis: CLICK HERE
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