By James Slater, Eastside BoxingDana White, the president of The UFC, is, like many of us, looking ahead with intrigue towards this Saturday's James Toney-Randy Couture "Boxing Vs. MMA" contest. White was literally hounded by Toney, and he finally granted "Lights Out" his wish, and got him a big MMA fight.
Now, with some other great match-ups also set for the card in Boston, Dana hopes for a good action bout between the men who are legends in their respective sports.James Slater: How are you, sir? It's great to be able to speak with you..
Dana White: I'm good, how are you? It's good that we got top speak with a boxing web site, to get you guys' take on the Couture-Toney fight.
J.S: It's our pleasure. First of all, are you looking forward to Saturday's "Boxing Vs. MMA" fight?
D.W: Yes I am. I was with James Toney, we just did a video blog, and he is in the best shape I think I've seen him in years; he's been doing his training. The thing about this fight - even though I fully expect Randy Couture to win, probably by double-legging him and putting him down near the fence and submitting him, something like that - is it is a FIGHT! Anything can happen when two guys are throwing punches at each other. And the reason this fight is happening is because Toney's nuts! He's crazy. He chased me around and then asked for this fight and now he's got it - and now he has to fight!
J.S: You are expecting a good fight then, not a farce as some people have been concerned about?
D.W: Yes. As far as a farce, Randy Couture is a legend, he's been around forever, and the same thing with James Toney. As I say, this is a fight! Anything can happen. But what I did was, I built a great card around it. We have Frankie Edgar-B.J Penn-two, and we have guys like Nate Diaz, Marcus Davis and Kerry Florian in action. So even if Couture does put Toney down and submits him in half a minute, there are still those great fight to see.
J.S: Do you have any regrets at having signed Toney?
D.W: No, not at all. He chased after me, he picked this fight and now he's gotta fight. I'm a fight fan, and I respect James Toney; he's a real guy.
J.S: The fight sure has got a lot of people talking. I am hugely intrigued by it, I must say. I'm not sure how many buys big UFC cards get on pay-per-view, but is it out of the question that Saturday's card gets a million buys?
D.W: It's not out of the question at all. Listen, if you are a fight fan, whether it's boxing or MMA - and I'm a huge fight fan, a boxing fan and historian myself - you will love this card. The thing is, even though I think Couture will win, I don't know for sure. When people say things like, 'oh, who would've won, Ali or Tyson?' no-one can say; the only way to find out is to put 'em in the ring and see. You can break down stats and if you do, Randy Couture will come out on top because he has more tools. But who knows for sure? Saturday night we'll find out!
J.S: Just talking about the Penn-Edgar rematch. Was Penn ill back when he lost in that upset?
D.W: Who knows if he was ill? Many guys have fought in the past when they were ill and had an off night. But Frankie Edgar is one bad little dude, and B.J Penn is one of the best ever. They both have something to prove.
J.S: With the Toney-Couture fight; whoever wins, it won't prove which is the superior sport, boxing or MMA, will it?
D.W: No, it won't. But that started [the debate about which sport was superior] with James Toney. He said Dana White had been shooting his mouth off about MMA being superior, and he said he was the only one who had the balls to try MMA. So that's how that started. I'm not going to tell you that MMA is the most superior fighting sport on earth. Toney said a boxer would beat an MMA fighter in boxing, and I don't dispute that. But boxing is just one tiny piece of MMA, and he challenged us at our sport.
J.S: What would it mean to you if Toney did win on Saturday? Would you try and make a rematch?
D.W: No, there wouldn't be a rematch. We'd put Toney in with another MMA guy, to see how far he can go. And Toney is 42, Couture is 47, so Toney does have the advantage in age. I think the boxing world would love it if Toney won!
J.S: Do you also feel, Dana, that IF Toney won, or even if he put on a great show, that more boxers would "invade" UFC?
D.W: Yeah, I think there probably would be a few more boxers coming out of the woodwork if that happened - and why not?
J.S: Are there any boxers out there now who you think would make the crossover to MMA well?
D.W: I think it would have to be guys with a wrestling background. But let's get past Saturday and see what happens.
J.S: Am I right in saying Boston is your hometown?
D.W: That's right.
J.S: And this is the first big card to take place there since you've been UFC president?
D.W: Yeah, it is. I'm real excited.
J.S: Are there any other boxing or MMA fights that you are looking forward to in the coming months?
D.W: We have a bunch of great fights in MMA. With boxing, I'm looking forward to the one fight the whole world wants to see, which is Mayweather-Pacquiao.
J.S: This is one of the things some boxing fans have talked about; how the big fights get made so much easier in MMA compared to boxing. Is that why people have/are making the switch do you feel?
D.W: Well, the big fights do get made in MMA - and also, you get a bunch of great fights on one card, not just one big fight. The big fights do still get made in boxing, but only once in a blue moon. That said, there really is no reason to switch. If you're a fight fan, you'll love UFC, but there is no reason you cannot go back and watch the big boxing matches when they take place.
J.S: Just talking about Pacquiao-Mayweather; do you think it will ever happen?
D.W: I don't know, man. I don't think Floyd wants that fight. In my opinion, he just doesn't look like he wants that fight.
J.S: Well, it's been great speaking with you, Dana. Can I ask you, whoever wins, is there any chance Toney-Couture goes the distance, or do you see a definite stoppage?
D.W: There's no way in hell this fight goes the distance! (laughs).
J.S: As you say, Toney asked for this fight and now he's got it. We'll all be tuning in, I just hope he doesn't get hurt! Also, I hope this article gets some good intelligent comments from the fans. Some boxing fans seem to see UFC as a threat!
D.W: Well, as long as they're interested in us. Thanks for having an open mind and putting us on a boxing site. There's no reason for the two sports to rival one another.
Source: eastsideboxing.com
