UFC 118 Workout Notes: Couture Not Caught in Hype

The poster may read “UFC vs. Boxing”. However, UFC hall of famer Randy Couture is not getting caught up in the hype.
“I don’t think there’s a rivalry between MMA and boxing”, Couture said Thursday at an open media workout, “If anything, there’s just a comparison. I watch and follow boxing and I don’t know any MMA fighter that doesn’t.”

Photo by: Peter Czymbor 8countnews.com

Couture (18-10, 7 KO’s, 3 submissions) has the complete opposite demeanor of his opponent this Saturday, former three division boxing champ James Toney, who will be making his MMA debut.

Throughout the promotion for this fight, Toney has promised that he’ll, “Knock Couture’s head off” and has referred to his hall of fame opponent as a “princess” and “Candy Couture.”

“I don’t pay attention to all that stuff and the little I’ve heard makes me laugh”, Couture said smiling, “I haven’t even watched any of the countdown shows or anything for this fight.”

For Couture, this is just another fight inside the octagon, a place that has been his professional home since he won the UFC heavyweight tournament at UFC 13 in May of 1997 and has been the setting for championship wins in both the heavyweight and light heavyweight divisions.

“I have no doubt that I couldn’t compete with James Toney in a boxing match, fortunately for me this is an MMA match inside the Octagon and I’m quite comfortable in there.”

As far as a prediction on the fight is concerned, Couture is noncommittal.

“The big question is how much has Toney learned since he’s started training for MMA? If I do what I have to do, I should be able to get him out of there. But I could see this going past the first round.”

Many are calling the PPV opener between UFC welterweights Marcus Davis (17-6, 6 KO’s, 8 submissions) and Nate Diaz (12-5, 3 KO’s, 8 submissions) the probable fight of the night at UFC 118.
For Davis, a New England native, it won’t be his first time fighting in Boston at a venue the locals refer to as “The Garden”. Previously, he fought as a pro boxer at the last boxing event held at the old Boston Garden.

Photo by: Peter Czymbor 8countnews.com

“December 14th, 1994”, Davis says off the top of his head, “Dana Rosenblatt fought Frank Savannah in the main event for an international title.”

According to boxrec, Davis scored a KO over an undefeated opponent named Joe Laroux that night and finished his boxing career in 2000 prior to starting an MMA career in 2003.

Back in 2003, MMA wasn’t a flourishing professional sport as it is now.

“I knew it was going to blow up”, Davis told this writer, “I saw the exact same things Dana White and the Fertitta bothers saw. I knew it was going to be big.”

Davis earned his shot in the UFC on season 2 of The Ultimate Fighter TV show in 2005. He’s fought exclusively in the UFC since 2006.

“At first I didn’t know much wrestling of jiu-jitsu other than the stuff I taught myself”, Davis said, “but now I’m a more complete fighter compared the one dimensional guy I was in my early fights.”

So that begs the question, how does he think James Toney will do against Randy Couture Saturday night?

“He’s going to get destroyed.” Davis says matter of factly, “I’m not sure he has any idea what he’s getting himself into.”