UFC signs James Toney

[The_Legend_of_Northwest]

Former pro boxer James Toney has signed a multi-fight contract to compete in the UFC. The promotion’s president, Dana White, confirmed the signing on Wednesday with MMAFighting.com after the news was first reported by FiveOuncesofPain.com.

Details of the contract, as well as Toney’s first bout with the promotion, were not immediately available.

The 41-year-old former IBF middleweight and super middleweight champion has publicly campaigned for a shot in the Octagon since late last year. Toney attended back-to-back UFC events in November and December, and video of White and Toney in impromptu discussions even surfaced online.

In early January, White said he was cautious of the prospect of allowing a pro boxer to enter the UFC ranks.

“(Boxer) Zab (Judah’s) like, ‘Man, you need to teach these guys how to box. You need to teach them this, that, and everything,’ but these guys don’t understand,” said White. “You don’t balance your weight the same way you balance your weight in boxing. You’ll get that front leg kicked off into the eighth row somewhere if you distribute your weight the same way they do in boxing. There’s an education process there for these guys that I learned the f---ing hard way. I went in and got choked out and kicked in the leg and all the stuff that happened to me when I started.”

White said he was unsure if promoting a pro boxer would translate well into pay-per-view buys. White was also aware of the potential backlash that could come with the move.

“I got blasted this week? Let me make this fight. Then I’ll get blasted from her to-- I’m the first guy out there going, ‘This is a f---ing freak show. Who would put on a fight like that?’” said White. “But I gotta tell you this. I’ve always wanted to see a guy--(Toney’s) a guy I actually respect. He’s tough as nails. He’s mean. He’s nasty. (But) he better get in shape if he wants to come in here and do this stuff.”

Toney’s flirtation in the UFC has been ongoing. In October 2006, former UFC champion Randy Couture said he was called by the promotion with a potential bout against the pro boxer that never came to fruition.

So apparently it dumb of Strikeforce to sign 47year old Herschel Walker, but it's okay for the UFC to sign a 41 year old washed up out of shape boxer, who has tested positive for steroids twice? I hope this one bites Dana is @$$.

[The_Legend_of_Northwest]

He will be making $5 million per fight. Far and away the most in the UFC.

Randy Couture gets $250,000
Brock Lesnar $400,000
Anderson Silva $200,000
GSP $200,000
Bj Penn $125,000
Frank Mir $45,000

The fact that they are giving a guy who has had ZERO training in mixed martial arts the most money in the promotion is sad.

[ACCBiggz]

The fact that they are giving a guy who has had ZERO training in mixed martial arts the most money in the promotion is sad.

I had not heard the salary, BUT again... common mistake made by fans... those tallies are simply reported to the commission and are not final figures. Almost everyone on that list, sans maybe Mir all the time, are over a million per fight and a couple in multi-million. James Toney is still a larger name than almost everyone on that list except maybe Brock Lesnar from a widespread point of view.

Secondly, Dana was vocal about being wary of signing Toney for the purpose of a "freak show"... the difference, Toney is a former world champion boxer. He has some creedence to him, just like Ishii having a gold medal in Judo does. It's only one dicipline but it's still at a high level. Secondly, Toney is the one that had been hunting down Dana White for over a year trying to get him to sign him. And until Toney steps into the Octagon no one should call it a freak show. If he is doing legit training then he's no more ill-prepared than a one dimenational BJJ player. It's just a different dimension of the game that he is exceeding at. We've see it both ways.

But honestly, one of the reasons I think it was signed was due to him being high profile and it allows a very good chance to show everyone how a boxer would most likely do. Leg kicks or taken down and submitted. I think that's the point being driven home ultimately, and it only works with a well-known boxer.

[LICKING COUNTY FAN]

Could be interesting but I do not see him being as good as H.W. was.