BOXER VS FIGHTER: The Story Behind UFC 118

When UFC began in 1993, it was poised to answer the challenging questions of combat. Who would win - the boxer or the wrestler? The karate master or the kickboxer? The kung-fu stylist or the judo blackbelt? On those early mixed martial arts events, Brazilian jiu-jitsu reigned supreme. However, as the sport progressed, being a well-skilled practitioner of one martial art wasn't enough. In order for martial artists to progress in the sport of mixed martial arts, it was necessary for fighters to be skilled in multiple disciplines of the martial arts. Now, thirteen years later at UFC 118, the competitors who enter the same octagon that the martial artists of the original UFC entered, are all now evolved mixed martial artists... except one.

In late 2009, following debate in the media fueled by the UFC president himself about boxing versus mixed martial arts, boxing great and current IBA Heavyweight Champion, James 'Lights Out' Toney, decided he wanted to defend the honour of boxing by becoming a mixed martial artist, and he had no interest in taking the traditional route of fighting on small regional shows to work his way up to the big leagues. If James Toney was to pursue this new sport, he wanted to jump right in with the sharks and fight immediately in the UFC - the juggernaut mixed martial arts (MMA) promotion that's home to the sport's greatest athletes. His strategy to achieve this goal? Stalk the UFC president, Dana White, by attending UFC shows held all over the country. Toney went as far as to interrupt White's interviews to demand a meeting. The strategy worked; as when the eventful night of UFC 108 was coming to a close, White took a meeting with Toney and his representatives.

White, unimpressed with Toney's lack of knowledge in even basic MMA techniques, became frustrated with Toney and addressed Toney's manager for the remainder of the meeting. White made it very clear to Toney and his manager that he did not want to promote a 'freakshow.' Toney repeatedly asserted that he was serious about competing in the UFC to defend boxing's honour, and wanted to take on the best UFC had to offer. As a couple of months passed by with no reports, it seemed like White dismissed any possibility of Toney fighting in the UFC. Then, on March 3, the collective jaws of the mixed martial arts community dropped when White announced that he had signed Toney to a multi-fight deal. His trainer would be Juanito Ibarra, previous trainer of former UFC Light Heavyweight Champion, Quinton 'Rampage' Jackson.

Rumours began circulating as to who Toney's first opponent was to be. Names like Kevin 'Kimbo Slice' Ferguson fueled fears that this fight was to be an actual 'freakshow,' and not a top-level mixed martial arts fight. However, a more serious name began floating around, creating a more diverse reaction filled with intrigue, debate, and familiarly, a notion of "who would win - the boxer or the wrestler?" That name was UFC Hall of Famer and former UFC Heavyweight and Light Heavyweight Champion, Randy 'The Natural' Couture. Subsequently, that was who Toney's opponent was destined to be.

Randy Couture began his mixed martial arts career as primarily a wrestler at UFC 13, where he won a one-night tournament. He would go on to win the UFC Heavyweight Championship twice, before he was to suffer two losses from fighters much bigger than him, which would have him move to a more appropriate weight class at light heavyweight. There, he would defeat long-time UFC Light Heavyweight Champion and the face of the UFC, 'The Huntington Beach Bad Boy' Tito Ortiz, for his title. After mixed success at light heavyweight, compounded by two knockout losses to subsequent UFC light heavyweight king, Chuck 'The Iceman' Liddell, Couture decided to retire from the sport.

A window of opportunity appeared when Couture watched from the sidelines as he commentated on low-level heavyweight fights. He noticed that UFC Heavyweight Champion, Tim 'The Maine-iac' Sylvia, was lazily ruling over the UFC heavyweight division with uninspired performances. Couture came out of retirement and defeated the heavyweight giant, once again reclaiming the UFC Heavyweight Championship. Couture would have one more defense before he was to sit out for a year after a dispute over pay with Dana White and the UFC. During this time, he would pursue a fight with 'The Last Emperor' Fedor Emelianenko, who many considered to be not only the greatest heavyweight in the sport, but possibly the greatest fighter in history, period.

Unable to win the lawsuit with the UFC, Couture settled with a fight against former WWE Champion and new UFC prospect, Brock Lesnar. Couture would fall in the second round, and his loss would give birth to the Brock Lesnar era in the UFC heavyweight division. Couture would suffer another loss to former Pride FC Heavyweight Champion, Rodrigo 'Minotauro' Nogueira, sending him back down to the light heavyweight division, where he would rebound with wins over Mark 'The Hammer' Coleman and Brandon 'The Truth' Vera. It was expected that Couture would be taking on a top contender next to set him up for another shot at the UFC Light Heavyweight Champion, Mauricio 'Shogun' Rua, but a fight against James Toney may have seemed more appetizing for the UFC legend.

Regardless of if this fight is to be considered a 'freakshow,' a boxer's chance to prove his sport's supremacy, or a legend's road to reclaim a crown that was once his; this fight has the interest of the entire mixed martial arts community and has even crossed over to the minds of boxing fans who have otherwise not given this sport a chance. As boxing and mixed martial arts are now the big two combat sport businesses that compete for pay-per-view buys, this fight may have more riding on it than it may seem. But if nothing else, it will answer a question. Who would win - the boxer or the fighter?

Ricky Leone
ricky@rickyleone.com
@RTLeone