• UFC 118

Couture says 'there is no risk' to fighting James Toney

ESPN staff
August 12, 2010
Randy Couture is expected to be far too well-rounded for James Toney at UFC 118 © Getty Images
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Randy Couture claims there is 'no risk' when he steps into the Octagon at UFC 118, despite the fact he will be facing one of the most seasoned boxers to have ever set foot inside the UFC.

James Toney arrives in Boston with the reputation of a three-time IBF champion, and no matter how much of an advantage Couture holds in the experience department, the punching power of Toney simply cannot be ruled out.

The theory goes that Toney will realise to his detriment how different the demands of MMA striking are on August 28, with vastly significant changes to footwork and the lack of footwear just two of the major adaptations he will need to make.

Couture is also the most difficult type of opponent Toney could meet, a Greco-Roman wrestler who was once an Olympic alternate. As a former five-time UFC champion, Couture will be expected to prove boxers cannot cut it at UFC 118, but he insists he does not feel the pressure that comes with the prospect of defeat.

"There's no risk. I don't understand why people keep saying that. How is it a risk?" he told MMA Mania. "This is a fight that garners a whole bunch of eyes from the boxing world as well as other areas and can bring new fans over to MMA.

"James Toney poses all kinds of problems. There's a lot of unknowns coming into this fight, not just for him, but for me as well. Look at what he's accomplished in the sport of boxing, some of the names he's beaten. He's a dangerous opponent and I think an interesting opponent. The bottom line is there's a lot more going on in this sport than whether I win or lose."

© ESPN Sports Media Ltd.
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