Purists have cried hypocrisy over news of boxing champion James Toney's new Ultimate Fighting Championship contract.
The 41-year-old boxing veteran got the usual line on Wednesday for well-known outsiders who make their way to MMA: he's an opportunist just looking to make a buck, he couldn't make it in his sport and can't go anywhere else, and he'll be obliterated by the "real fighters."
He is, in short, a freak show.
But several UFC heavyweights MMAjunkie.com (
www.mmajunkie.com) spoke to Wednesday didn't condemn Toney for the move. Most, in fact, had more positive things to say than negative.
Pat Barry, a former kickboxer who's felled more than a few opponents with his leg kick, said the signing could raise the level of striking in the UFC.
"It's awesome, man," he said. "It just widens the pool of fighters. If it was up to me, I'd rather see someone get stung and knocked out versus submitted any day. If he hits you, you're going to get hurt. I'm looking forward to seeing him do damage if he can make the adjustment."
Todd Duffee, who scored the fastest knockout in UFC history this past August at UFC 102, said he understands purists' arguments but feels Toney's presence is a good business move for the promotion.
"I think the UFC's going to make a lot of money," he said. "There are people in the UFC he stands to beat. Yeah, it kind of makes a mockery of the sport, but James Toney is a fighter. I definitely respect him.
"I think it's kind of being blown out of proportion. There's world champion jiu-jitsu players that fight in the UFC. You don't tell them, 'Oh my god, you're going to mixed martial arts. Are you sure about that?'"
Paul Buentello, a former top UFC heavyweight contender, admires Toney's brazen campaign to earn his contract.
"I like the way he got the fight going," Buentello said. "He got in Dana White's head. He's a warrior. I think it's a good fit. He's just true. He brought it all out there and called everybody out. I think his actions are showing what he wants to do."
Even Brendan Schaub, a veteran of "The Ultimate Fighter 10" who initially criticized the decision to add former bareknuckle brawler Kevin "Kimbo Slice" Ferguson to the cast, is far more charitable to Toney's move.
"He's 41, so it's kind of a late start to get into it, but with is boxing background, it's trouble with those four-ounce gloves on," Schaub said. "Honestly, I'm surprised the UFC signed him with zero MMA fights. But with the right matchups, he could be exciting in the UFC. Even his jab can do damage do guys."
Heavyweights Chris Tuchscherer and Gilbert Yvel don't know who Toney is.
"That just goes to show you how much I follow boxing," Tuchscherer, a collegiate wrestling standout, said Wednesday evening with a laugh.
All of the heavyweights MMAjunkie.com spoke to agree that Toney faces an uphill battle inside the octagon.
"I always said you can bring a wrestler to an MMA fight, but you can't bring a boxer to MMA," Tuchscherer offered. "Most fights end up on the ground, and wrestlers are more comfortable when they're on the ground."
Schaub, a former arena football player who trains with heavyweight contender Shane Carwin, put it more bluntly.
"Someone would be stupid to trade with him," he said. "Once he goes to the ground, he's screwed."
Then again, Duffee said, stranger things have happened inside a cage. Former boxing king Ray Mercer knocked out five-time UFC champion Tim Sylvia in one punch this past June.
"We don't know anything about him," Duffee said. "We know how his boxing is, but we don't know how his [MMA is]. We don't know how he's going to react to a double leg or any kind of wrestling. He may be really friggin' good at it. There's just a lot of question marks around it."
Buentello said it will be hard for Toney to erase years of physical training centered toward boxing.
"It's going to be a different rhythm," he said. "It's a different pace. Boxers like to run five miles every morning. MMA is a spirit sport. It's going to take him a while to get adjusted to that. There are too many variables.
"I think he'll do just fine with the right opponent. If you get the wrong opponent, like Randy Couture or Rashad Evans, these good grapplers and wrestlers, he's going to have a hard time."
UFC president Dana White said on Wednesday that he has yet to formulate a plan for Toney's first octagon appearance.
The heavyweights were unanimous in their willingness to fight Toney. None, however, was opposed outright to his presence.
"It's dope, man," Barry said. "I want to fight him. Tonight."
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