WBA world heavyweight champion David 'The Hayemaker' is unsure whether James 'Lights Out' Toney's attempt to break into the world of mixed martial arts is a wise one. The former middleweight, super-middleweight and cruiserweight world boxing champion makes his UFC debut on August 28 against MMA veteran Randy 'The Natural' Couture, and Haye fears the worst.
"Six months of training isn’t going to be enough for Toney," Haye said. "As a UFC fan, I know two or three years wouldn’t be enough. How many times has Toney sprawled in his life? 500? How many leg kicks has he taken in his life? 300? How many Kimura attempts has he defended? 140? Even if he’s done double that amount, he wouldn’t have nearly the experience needed to win a UFC fight."
As well as being a fan of mixed martial arts, the 29-year-old Haye has also dabbled in the sport in between boxing sessions. It's this first-hand experience with the hybrid sport that leaves Haye dumbfounded as to why Toney, a master boxer, would even attempt crossing over and.
"I know from training in MMA myself that the wrestling aspect ruins your punching power," Haye explained. "After a minute of grappling, your arms, back and shoulders fill with blood and even if you then find space to throw punches, your power is suddenly crap.
"I hit a lot harder and I’m so much faster than James, and yet I couldn’t land a punch on fighters when all they wanted to do was take me down to the ground. James is a much more static fighter than I am, and is going to get thrown on his back immediately by Randy. I admire Toney’s spirit and boxing skills, but he’s delusional here."
