Exclusive Interview With UFC President Dana White - "Couture-Toney Is A FIGHT And Anything Can Happen In A Fight!" -- Eastside Boxing

By James Slater, Eastside Boxing

Dana 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.

Very kindly taking the time to call me up so as to get his opinions on UFC, MMA and boxing on a boxing website, Dana had the following things to say earlier today:

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

Couture calls for Hatton to join UFC

James Robson, Manchester Evening News, October 29, 2009

RICKY Hatton has been told to quit boxing and become a cage fighter in the UFC!

And one of the legends of the Ultimate Fighting Championship has even offered to train the Hitman to make him a star in the brutal mixed martial arts phenomenon.

Five-time world UFC champion Randy Couture believes Hatton, who hasn't boxed since losing to Manny Pacquiao in May, would be a sensation in the cage.

"I am a big fan of Ricky Hatton," said Couture. "He is a fantastic fighter. I could get him up to speed on the ground wrestling part of it, while he could take advantage of his boxing talent.

"He could make a big difference in the lighter categories."

Major figures from around the boxing world have urged Hatton to retire from boxing for his own safety - but he won't be rushed into a decision.

And although the 31-year-old is currently concentrating on his promoting career, he is known to be a big fan of UFC and suggested earlier this year that it could one day over take boxing in popularity.

"It is all action, proper fighting," he said. "They are going the right away about it to get people interested.

"There is a concern in boxing that UFC is taking its place. People seem to get more value for money.

"UFC would be right up my street, I used to kick box so maybe I would be all right."

Couture, who fights at what is set to be a sold-out MEN Arena on November 14, is convinced the UFC, which has a huge worldwide following, would be an ideal option for Hatton should he decide to continue his fight career.

He said: "A lot of boxers have trouble putting themselves in the situation where they are going to get choked and taken down. But if he can learn the ways of UFC then he could go a long way.

"He is a tremendous fighter and has a lot of heart. There is no doubt he could make a tremendous impact with his heart and determination in the ring."

COUTURE will be signing copies of his autobiography 'Becoming The Natural' on Sunday November 15 from 11am to 1pm at Hard Rock Cafe , Exchange Square, Manchester. For tickets call 0845 125 9627 or visit: www.fightersinc.net/experience.htm

Do you think Hatton would be able to succeed in UFC? Have your say.

(This article is originally posted at manchestereveningnews.co.uk)

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The ESPN Magazine is to display Hellmuth naked and more

October 28, 2009, OnlinePokerNews.org

The latest issue of “ESPN the Magazine”; the popular American sports magazine has just done it again …… it will now feature naked photographs of about 80 different male and female athletes.

This special edition of ESPN magazine will be called the “Body Issue” and it will feature athletes from a variety of sports on this latest issue, with poker being one of them. The reason why poker was also chosen as a sport in this case, could be due to the fact and personal interest behind the ESPN TV network which is also the one to televise the World Series of Poker.

Amongst these poker celeb personalities, we will also see the champion Phil ‘Poker Brat’ Hellmuth together with Jennifer Harman, Scotty Nguyen and Daniel “Kid Poker” Negreanu. These 4 poker stars will be pictured sitting naked around a poker table but with all the players’ private areas strategically hidden.

Gary Belsky, the magazine’s editor, “We’ve always been committed to showing fans a different side of the sports and athletes they love. This issue, from the amazing photos to the innovative journalism, is just our latest effort to do that. We’re very happy with the results.”

Harman and Negreanu were nervous about the naked shoot, thinking they would not fit in but both relaxed when they got to know who was chosen to accompany them during the shoot and that it would all be done in a classy and tasteful manner. Daniel Negreanu commented; “It’s not like they were going to have Patrik Antonius or Gus Hansen in there. I worked out. I had a nice tan going. I sucked my belly in and I was good to go.”

From the other sports realms we can look forward to see athletes such as race car drivers Mark Martin and Carl Edwards, jockey Alex Solis, boxer Manny Pacquiao, mixed martial arts fighter Randy Couture, tennis player Serena Williams, baseball players Ivan Rodriguez and Joba Chamberlain basketball player Dwight Howard, hockey player Zdeno Chara, , golfer Christina Kim, football players Torry Holt and Adrian Peterson.

(This article is originally posted at onlinepokernews.org)

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