By MATT MOLGAARD
MMANEWS.COM Staff Writer

INTRO

So, James Toney put his jewels on the table, entered the cage, and got worked over by Randy Couture in a few brief minutes, so what? The vast majority of those who pay combat sports any form of attention saw that outcome a mile off. To expect a boxer with less than a single years worth of MMA training to topple a mixed martial artist as seasoned as Randy Couture is just ludicrous. At the same time, to expect Randy Couture to enter a boxing ring and defeat James Toney at his own game is pure comedy. We’re talking two different sports that require different skill-sets and training regimens.

Rather than verbally blasting Toney (as many fighters, fans and critics have done in the last week), we should in fact be praising this man endlessly; he actually had the gall to back his talk up, and come test himself on foreign territory. Unfortunately for Toney, he was stylistically out of the fight long before August 28th, 2010.

In order for Toney to find some level of success in the world of MMA, he’s not only got to alter and intensify his workout schedule, he’s got to watch his diet, and, he’s got to be shown a little mercy from the matchmakers. Sure the man has nearly 100 professional boxing matches under his belt, and while that may give him an advantage over just about anyone he faces while the fight remains in the upright stance, as soon as that takedown comes, those near 100 matches of experience go flying out the window.

At this point Toney has expressed his desire to continue competing in MMA as well as boxing. He’s openly confessed that despite losing in embarrassing fashion, he enjoyed himself thoroughly last Saturday night. So, the question that lingers is quite obvious: who do you schedule Toney to face that won’t force this fight to the mat immediately and easily dominate him on the ground?