If you have this show DVR’d but haven’t watched it yet, or know someone that has, you have to watch this show. Dana White has struck gold with this guy.

James Toney is the perfect representative for boxing in a MMA vs. Boxing war. Everything about him is “boxer”, and he talks a LOT. Ray Mercer is on this panel as well, and it’s like Hall & Nash invading WCW in 1996 listening to these two laugh at MMA. They somewhat understand MMA, and are somewhat familiar with names, yet have such supreme confidence they’re going to come on and prove that boxing is so far superior.

If promoted properly, this is Dana White’s nWo “invasion angle”. With his charisma, persona, and mic skills, Toney was on fire, like a movie boxing villain, cutting promos on everybody from Anderson Silva, Fedor, Mike Tyson, Tito Ortiz, and Tim Sylvia to Herschel Walker and Roy Jones Jr. Just great stuff. If Toney was fighting this weekend, I’d pay almost anything to watch him in the Octagon after this show.****

Inside MMA report by Steve Te Tai ( This e-mail address is being protected from spam bots, you need JavaScript enabled to view it )

Originally aired March 12 at 9pm EST on HDNET.

Kenny Rice & Bas Rutten with guest panelists: James Toney (boxing heavyweight champ and new UFC signee), Ray Mercer (former boxing champion and slayer of Tim Sylvia), and KJ Noons (last EXC lightweight champ and experienced boxer.)

[Unfortunately, I had DVR issues and HDNET’s schedule was off, so I missed some of the beginning.]

“Transitioning from Boxing to MMA”

I join the show as Bas is in the middle of an intense discussion with James Toney about the differences between boxing and MMA. Boy is it hot in here already? I can tell Bas is pissed, and is holding back.

Bas finishes a long diatribe about people boasting about eliminating takedowns since 1993, and it’s never happened, so what is James Toney going to do when his opponent takes him to the ground.

Toney says he will work on his ground game and learn everything. He is the IBF World Champion, and this isn’t a “flash in the pan” one-time thing, he’s here to stay. Then he cuts this great short boxing promo. (Toney is such a “boxer”. It’s like watching a movie about a boxer. His charisma, his clothes, his jewelry, his mannerisms, his promos, everything …)

KJ Noons, (who looks like Richie Steamboat), says MMA training is way more demanding on the body. But all fights start standing up, so you can’t underestimate the importance of stand-up and striking. To come from boxing is easier to deal with because of that, and as great as BJJ guys are, their game plan is reliant on moving the fight to the ground.

“Freddie Roach on James Toney & Ray Mercer”

They show a clip of legendary boxing trainer Freddie Roach talking about Ray Mercer and James Toney. He says Ray is a knockout artist and can knock you out with one punch. He credits him for working on his ground game and getting better, but knows he’s certainly not the best on the ground. However, Ray can always punch, and that’s something that you never lose. James Toney is his friend, but believes he’ll be tapped out in his first fight with a real opponent. He believes the UFC is using James Toney to show that MMA is better than boxing. Once that fight goes to the ground he’s in trouble. James is not afraid of anyone, because in his mind he can beat anyone in the world. It’s good to think like that, but isn’t realistic and is why they aren’t together anymore, because he wanted Toney to retire. They’re still friends though.

“James Toney”

Back at the studio, James Toney says he hasn’t spoken with his friend Freddie in two years, so he doesn’t know the MMA training he’s been doing. Bas asks if he just started training six weeks ago or what?

James says when he was a kid he did karate, (and pauses after he says it, like that should erase all doubt), but he started the “ground game” four months ago. He adds he’s still brand new to the game but he picks things up quickly.

Bas remembers when he started in MMA as a striker, he would train with submission guys and tell them to stand up and fight like a man. After they almost broke his leg with a kneebar, he learned to respect that type of power, and stopped saying that stuff. Bas says Toney has made some pretty strong comments lately and compares him to Frank Mir, after his recent controversial comments about Brock Lesnar. Bas whips out a sheet and reads a quote where Toney said he’s “not going to let one of those boys lay on me like a little fag.” Bas asks if he’s worried that after hearing that, an opponent might be upset at that comment and take him down and attempt to injure him because of it.

Toney says he’s not worried. The bottom line is the fight starts standing up. He is a heavyweight boxer wearing 4 oz. gloves instead of 10 oz., and when a guy shoots in, he’ll step back and hit an uppercut or a left hook. Either way, if he hits a guy on the chin with 4 oz. gloves, the lights are going out. Bas forewarned him, and said his first two fights were like that, and after they figured out he was a striker, it all went to the ground. Toney says he and his camp are working on the “full package” so he’ll be ready for everything and anything when the time comes.

Mercer echoes Toney sentiments about the glove size, saying he feels like he could knock out a polar bear wearing his 4 oz. gloves. If he can hit a guy on the chin, he’s gone. He remembers doing that to Tim Sylvia and Tim was knocked out so quick, Ray was already attempting a takedown before Tim even hit the mat. They show a clip of Mercer knocking out the former UFC champion, and Ray and Toney erupted in celebration. Toney had a “this is going to be so easy” look on his face after watching that clip. Mercer says if you can connect first, you got it, but once it goes down to the ground, you got to know your stuff or you’re in trouble. James Toney says he needs to learn from other people’s mistakes, and go in knowing the full package since he respects MMA. But people need to respect boxing too. He cites Dana White comments against boxing, and that’s why he’s stepping up to represent.

“Inside MMA/MMA Junkie Poll”

Which boxer is most likely to have a successful MMA career?

40% Roy Jones Jr.

23% James Toney

22% Ricardo Mayorga

8% Hasim Rahman

7% Ray Mercer

KJ Noons says it would be harder for a MMA fighter to do boxing than vice versa, because boxers already have an edge knowing that stand-up aspect so well. Coming in with footwork skill is a big edge as well for a boxer doing MMA making the transition easier for boxers.

“Ray Mercer”

Ray Mercer’s next fight will April 16th in Detroit, MI against Ron Sparks on a KOTC show. He doesn’t know Ron Sparks but will take the fight because Sparks only has 5 fights, so he feels confident if it’s standing that he can win. He says beating Tim Sylvia really gave him a big head, but he knows he needs to be good at the “ground game” too. He says he does know how to “sprawl”. (It’s funny these two have this supreme boxers confidence, acting like just knowing what a sprawl IS, will completely nullify takedowns from anyone on Earth.)

He recalls his fight with Kimbo Slice, where Kimbo was instructed by then trainer, Bas Rutten, to take him down. Ray saw the youtube fights and thought he would have a throwdown punch-up with Kimbo, but was surprised when Kimbo took him down. He also admits when that happened he was scared to death. It would be different now since he’s been learning, but at the time, it really caught him off guard.

“The return of KJ Noons to MMA”

KJ Noons marks his return to MMA on March 22 at Dream 13 against Andre Amade in Yokohama, Japan.

He explains he stayed busy with boxing on Showtime after the EliteXC collapse, and feels it’s a good time to come back to MMA. Since he has a good relationship with Scott Coker going back ten years, it was easy to come back to work for him at Strikeforce.

“More Toney trash talk”

James Toney says he wants someone good in the UFC, and scoffs at the idea of doing what Herschel Walker did with an easy opponent. Toney says he’s the best, so he wants the best. “I’m the heavyweight champion of the world, period.” He doesn’t want a “softee” to start his MMA career.

Kenny says the other defense when an opponent shoots in is the uppercut. You don’t see much of it in MMA, but a James Toney/Ray Mercer caliber fighter, will certainly know how to throw an effective uppercut from that position.

Bas explains that a straight punch, where you rear back doesn’t work in MMA because they’ll always close the distance, and a foot of distance won’t get much force in a punch, but a strong uppercut if it lands will do the job. But if you miss that uppercut, then you’re in trouble. He tries to explain to Ray and James, that he had similar experience transitioning to MMA and is only trying to give a heads up, and isn’t assuming they don’t know this stuff.

“WEC 47”

They run down the results of the WEC show headlined by Dominick Cruz (IMMA panelist two weeks ago) beating Brian Bowles for the Bantamweight belt.

Kenny points out Torres losing two fights in a row now, and they show still pics of his fight with Faber’s boy Benavidez. They talk about Pulver’s losing effort with still pics. They sympathize with him at this point in his career losing his last five. Bas suggests he go the KJ Noons route, and do some boxing or Muay Thai boxing, just to get some heat back in a different sport, and then maybe return to MMA later on. Since fighters all know not to stand with Jens, they will always take him down and win.

Kenny plugs the Sengoku Raiden Championship 12 show on HDNET on Friday night, and say former WWE Diva Maria will be joining the announcing team, and they show some bikini pictures of Maria.

“Newscage”

Runs down the UFC on Versus 1 card from Broomfield, CO on March 21 ehadlined by Jon Jones vs. Brandon Vera. In a clip, Jones talks about his DQ loss to Matt Hammil, saying he learned to pick his shots more wisely next time, and to remember that there are rules out there to protect people.

--Kimbo Slice will fight Matt Mitrione at UFC 113 on May 8.

--Tryouts for TUF 12 are April 1, from the Omni Charlotte Hotel in Charlotte, NC for lightweights and light heavyweights.

--Stephan Bonnar’s appeal to turn his Sydney loss to Soszynski, into a no-contest because his fight ending cut was caused by an accidental headbutt, was rejected.

--Negotiations are still ongoing between Fedor’s camp and Strikeforce and don’t expect him to fight until June at the earliest.

“Roy Jones Jr.”

Roy Jones Jr., who is scheduled to fight Bernard Hopkins on April 4, says it’s easier to transition from boxing to MMA, since boxers already have one aspect of MMA down, as opposed to someone just jumping into boxing, have to learn everything from the beginning.

Back at the studio, Mercer says Roy talks a lot about MMA, but he needs to get in there and actually do it. Mercer says MMA is a whole new ballgame, and MMA fighters need to be respected more than they are. He still considers himself a boxer first, but knows he needs to train in MMA to know it all.

James Toney says Roy needs to put up or shut up. If you really want to do this, it’s 2010, so do it. Dana White called out all boxers, so he stood up to represent boxing. If Roy wants to fight Anderson Silva, and Silva wants to fight him, then it’s time to come on over and do it.

“Trash Talk in Boxing and MMA”

Kenny asks if there is more trash talk in boxing than MMA. Toney says Rashad and Quinton is about as bad as he’s seen in MMA, but not much. He mostly recalls fighters saying how they’re friends with the guys they’re fighting.

Mercer says he’s seen a lot of things that happen in boxing that don’t in MMA. Not just the trash talk but also fighters getting ripped off. As much respect as he has for boxing he has that much more for MMA. Mercer says he gets a little nervous going out for a MMA fight because you don’t know what to expect. In boxing, you could be knocked out and that’s it. In MMA, a lot of things could happen to you.

Kenny brings up the Diaz brothers incident after his Yves Edwards fight, on KJ Noons a few years back, so he jokes KJ has probably seen more trash talk in MMA than boxing. He says in MMA, when there’s someone in MMA you genuinely don’t like and aren’t going to be friends with, there’s only one way to settle it and that’s with the hands! KJ says he’s a pretty chill person, so it’s not his personality to talk trash like that.

Toney says you should only be talking trash when you can back it up, pointing out Tito Ortiz, and shakes his head in bewilderment. Bas suggests if Toney can cut to 205, then he should fight Anderson Silva, since it will be a guaranteed stand-up fight and Silva even wanted to try boxing. Toney cuts this awesome promo on Anderson Silva, at one point even looking into the camera. He says if Anderson should ever take that path, then it’s the wrong road to take. He respects Anderson as a great fighter, but “I hit awfully hard, and move awfully fast for a big guy”. Silva should just stay at 185, because he hits too hard for Silva. He says he’s not Roy Jones, and he’s actually a whole different species. Then he goes off calling out Tito Ortiz and Chuck Liddell and finishes a great promo with a bunch of catchphrases from Detroit, etc.

“Kruck’s Korner with Freddie Roach”

--Some of the MMA fighters he’s trained are Tito Ortiz, Andrei Arlovksy, Anderson Silva, and BJ Penn, whom he calls one of the best strikers he’s ever worked with. He’s never worked with GSP or Fedor but would like to. He calls GSP an intelligent fighter. He says Fedor is off balance and is flat footed, so he can be outboxed, but he’s such a good puncher you have to be careful with that. Plus he comes from Sambo so he’s good on the ground (and the 10 years of submitting guys in MMA doesn’t hurt either).

--It’s tough to teach distance with MMA to get them comfortable being closer.

--He thinks Manny Pacquiao is the boxer that would do the best in MMA because of his speed. Even if he was taken down, he’d be on his feet again before you knew it.

--When asked who hits harder, an MMA fighter or a boxer, he says the boxers have an advantage at this time with their hands, but he also believes a true “puncher” is born, not made.

--It seems boxing is coming back a little bit these days, because of Pacquiao but MMA has a better future. The biggest reason is because boxing has lost sight of entertaining the people, pointing out how the undercards of good main events are crap because the promoters don’t want to spend any money. Whereas on UFC shows, you have seven to ten fights with a good competitive undercard.

--He thinks a lot of people in boxing don’t like MMA, but he thinks the two sports compliment each other. One difference he notices is MMA guys are more into the gym than boxers. Boxers “punch in” to the gym, to do their work and go home, where MMA guys almost look at the gym as their temple. He notes that Arlovsky and Silva, when entering his gym, would always bow before entering or leaving. He believes the respect level is much higher in MMA, and likes how after fights, they shake hands with no hard feelings afterwards.

“Ray Mercer and James Toney go off on Fedor”

Kenny remarks Mercer and Toney’s reactions during the clips shown of Fedor, and asks how they would like to fight him.

Toney says it would be a blessing to fight Fedor, because he’s so one-dimensional. (Oh, really? Do tell.) He says Fedor thinks he’s a boxer, but once he gets hit on the chin, he’ll fall. Then he starts talking even more trash about Fedor. He does a mock imitation of Fedor being a giant, strong man, who growls and flexes, but says he’s a typical big strong guy who has no heart. (Who is he talking about?) He compares him to Mike Tyson, who seemed so big and strong, but once he gets backed up to a spot, the female comes out, and he’ll find anyway he can to get out of there. He says there’s a guy like Fedor in every sport, who’s the biggest, strongest guy, around, but once he gets knocked down, then the truth comes out. (Bas and KJ are bent over in laughter listening to him talk this way about Fedor.)

Mercer adds his two cents, saying Fedor doesn’t show much other than punching, but he probably knows a lot more than just that. (Ya think?) Ray says he would be prepared to fight Fedor, and would learn how to twist his leg and put on a rear-naked-choke! (He says it in a way as if he just learned what a RNC was last week!) Then James Toney pours it on even more saying to Ray, “That dude is scared, he don’t want to go toe to toe with you!” (Bas, Kenny, and KJ don’t say a thing, they just move right along to…)

“Highlights”

Ring of Fire from Omaha, NE had …

--Sean Wilson by TKO over Luke Caudillo

--Justin Wren (from this past season’s TUF) over Josh Henry with TKO from punches

--John Alessio RNC on Matt Delanoit

--Alonzo Martinez over Demi Deeds with an RNC

Four Bears Casino in New Town, ND had …

--Michelle “The Karate Hottie” Waterson over Rosary Califano in a 105 pound women’s bout, via flying armbar.

--Leo Kuntz beat Hollis Huggins

World Championship Fighting from Wilmington, MA had …

--Matt Martin over Peter Cole

--Dan Bonnell over Cesario De Souza

--Tom Galucchio (isn’t that the host of Bravo’s Top Chef?) over Rick Hawn

“Judo vs. MMA”

Since one of the losers from these highlights came from Judo, Bas Rutten says when you choose a fighting sport it’s for a reason. And when you choose Judo, it’s usually because you don’t like getting hit. So when you try to transition from judo to MMA, and you’re trying to clamp on submissions while getting punched in the face, it’s very difficult for them. It’s easier for strikers who are used to getting punched.

“Toe to Toe with El Guapo”

--What should MMA athletes do to prevent injuries?

Bas says yoga is good, but not power yoga. Just good breathing and stretching. He says so much of MMA is mental it’s important to give your brain a break.

“Split Decision”

--Brighter future, Boxing or MMA?

KJ says both, as do Ray and Toney. Bas says it will be MMA and there will be a lot more money to be made in MMA.

Kenny asks since the US hasn’t won Olympic Gold since Mercer did in 1988, if that’s what it would take to re-energize boxing.

Ray says it’ll start in the amateurs and the trainers to get a good pool of fighters for the future. Toney shakes his head and says the class of ’88, featuring Mercer and Roy Jones Jr., was the greatest class ever and it’ll never happen again. The state of amateur boxing right now in the US is terrible.

--Tougher sport, boxing or MMA?

KJ says boxing in the ring, MMA in the gym. Ray agrees. Toney says boxing is number one, because he said so.

--IMMA Highlight of the Week. Wilson’s TKO, the Karate Hottie’s flying armbar, or Bonnell’s overhand right?

Mercer & Toney pick the Hottie’s armbar, as does Bas. KJ likes Bonnell.

Hoo-boy, what a show. You get Toney matched up with somebody who can talk like a Frank Mir, give it a few weeks of promos and some ESPN coverage and you’ve got a million buys easy. Toney is a real find, and I see why Dana signed him.

So like El Guapo always says, Godspeed and party on!

If you don’t get HDNET or missed the show, you can see extended video highlights at http://hd.net/insidemma.html, and you can also email questions to Bas Rutten for the show at This e-mail address is being protected from spam bots, you need JavaScript enabled to view it