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UFC Welcomes James "Lights Out" Toney March 4, 2010 by Tom O'Brien According to FiveOuncesofPain.com, James "Lights Out" Toney has recently signed a multi-fight deal with the UFC. This will definitely add intrigue to presumably the heavyweight division, but will it be more than a side show? Brock Lesnar entered the UFC known primarily as a professional wrestler. He soon proved critics wrong by capturing the UFC Heavyweight title. Lesnar's background in wrestling was a tremendous help in his mixed martial arts debut and subsequent contests. Can someone with a background primarily in boxing succeed in MMA? Toney will enter the Octagon with no MMA experience and at 41 years of age. He was named the Ring Magazine and Boxing Writers Association of America Fighter of the Year in both 1991 and 2003. James Toney's boxing record is 72 wins, 6 defeats, 3 draws, and 2 no contests. Don't expect much from Toney. His debut in the UFC will most likely be on a PPV event, and will definitely increase viewership, but any fighter with "stand-up only" skills cannot succeed in MMA. If Toney is pitted against a fighter with wrestling or jiu jitsu skills he will probably meet with defeat. If "Lights Out" faces a striker, primarily a puncher, he will stand a great chance of winning by knockout. Regardless, Toney's debut, whenever that may be, will be interesting to watch. One thing is for sure, he better start a crash course in takedown defense and scrambling skills. To read the entire article at FiveOuncesofPain.com click here. |