Why Toney vs Couture Is Bad For MMA
No doubt about it, Randy Couture vs James Toney is going to make the UFC some money at UFC 118. The hype and buzz surrounding this match has even overshadowed the night's main event, Frankie Edgar vs B.J. Penn - Volume 2. I hate to rain on everyone's parade, but the short-term benefits of Toney vs Couture are far outweighed by the long-term damage it could do to the sport. So why is Randy Couture vs James Toney bad for the sport of mixed martial arts? Let me count the ways:
1) Boxing vs MMA
Not surprisingly, Couture vs Toney has been billed as the be-all-and-end-all in the ongoing 'boxing vs MMA' debate. This is a very wrong, and very dangerous, assumption. There are no mixed martial artists or boxers that represent their sport as a whole, especially not two fighters past their prime as Randy Couture and James Toney are. Especially not a punch-drunk, flabby boxer with 83 pro fights under his belt (not to mention multiple failed steroid tests) or a 47-year-old mixed martial artist who hasn't beaten a top-rated opponent in over three years. This matchup will settle nothing more than determining who is the best MMA fighter, Couture or Toney.
2) No-Win Situation
This is a no-win situation for MMA and for Randy Couture. Couture HAS to beat James Toney, but when he does he won't be praised for it - he is supposed to win. But, if somehow Toney figures out a way to beat Couture in the cage, the damage to the sport and Couture is immense. Captain America's legacy is forever tarnished for losing to an out of shape, 42-year-old boxer making his MMA debut, and MMA will be deemed the redheaded stepchild to boxing.
3) Captain America Hangs Up His Cape
While it seems like the day will never come, Randy Couture eventually has to retire (doesn't he?!). He is now 47-years-old and has been in the sport for 13 years. As much as we all hate to admit it, Couture is very close to retirement. So why waste precious time fighting a rookie like James Toney? If we are to believe that Couture is still a legitimate contender for the UFC's light heavyweight crown, he shouldn't be wasting time with the James Toneys of the world. He should be fighting other top contenders to see if he really can make another run to the top of the 205lb division.
4) 1993 All Over Again
Usually its a positive thing if something is labelled 'reto' or a 'throwback'. That is not the case with Couture vs Toney. It is retro and a throwback, but that definitely is not a good thing. This match harkens back to the Stone Age period of MMA, back to UFC 1 in 1993. Back in the days where matches were not much more than bar brawls. Back where a tough guy off the street could enter the sport and have success. Supposedly mixed martial arts has advanced significantly from its dark ages. If so, then why is a guy who has never competed in the sport allowed to fight a legend like Randy Couture as a co-headliner on a major pay-per-view? I have no problem with James Toney competing in the sport - I actually respect his courage for doing it - but he should have to work his way up, just like every other fighter. It was bad enough when a guy fresh from a career in pro wrestling had the UFC Heavyweight Championship belt around his waist after his fourth fight - at least he had a stellar amateur wrestling career. If mixed martial artists are to be respected as the hardworking, highly skilled professional athletes that they are, then allowing James Toney to co-headline an event just sends the wrong message to the masses.
5) This Is Not Japan
Randy Couture vs James Toney is nothing more than a gimmick fight; a circus sideshow. These type of matches happen all the time in Japan or smaller organizations, but they don't happen in the UFC. The UFC is supposed to be the 'major leagues' of MMA, where the best of the best go at it to determine the king of the hill. What's next for the UFC - Jose Canseco vs Shaq? Let's leave the freak show matches to our friends in the minor leagues and in the Far East.
This isn't to say I'm not interested in watching Couture vs Toney tomorrow night. Here's hoping Couture makes quick work of him and Toney can disappear as quickly as he burst onto the scene. I'm just saying that if Dana White plans on making MMA the biggest sport in the world in the next decade (like he claims), he should be looking at things long-term. Then again, White comes off as more of a gambler than an investor, so this is par for the course.
