BOSTON — On the night that multi-time boxing champion James Toney made his mixed martial arts debut with the intention of showing that boxing is the most effective combat style, it was ironic that there was not a single knockout recorded. Instead, it seemed that subconciously, the athletes of the UFC were intent on showing Toney how varied and effective other forms of fighting could be.
Toney was on the receiving end of the fifth and final submission of UFC 118, losing to Randy Couture in a one-sided fight that will be his first and last foray in the UFC, according to company president Dana White. When asked if he would stick to his pre-fight promise of only a single fight for Toney if he lost, White said yes.
“He’s the IBA and NABO heavyweight champion. He’s a boxer and that’s what he does,” White said. “He wanted to fight, he picked a fight with our guys and he fought tonight. He’s a tough guy, he’s been around. I have a lot of respect for him, but you can’t expect a guy to come in with one discipline and do well. He stepped up, he came in and did it. He picked a fight and he got one.”