Not looking forward to this one bit, courtesy of mmanews:
First reported by BJPENN.com, MMA heavyweights and former UFC fighters Ken Shamrock and James Toney have agreed to square off in an MMA bout scheduled to take place on September 23 in El Paso, Texas. The complete details of the fight, as well as which organization would be heading its promotion, are soon to be determined when both camps meet together to discuss the particulars of the fight.
Though the bout has not yet taken full form, Toney’s manager Trever Sherman has confirmed the validity of the planned scrap both with BJPENN.com and with MMAFighting, claiming also that his fighter will be more than ready for it:
The takedown is Ken's only chance… I respect Ken as much as I do Randy. He's one of the reasons we have this art. But he can't stand with James. Randy proved that. He didn't stand with him for 10 seconds. No one will make that mistake. I want James to go in with hands down by his waist and dare Ken to punch with him."
This of course marks the second professional MMA fight for the boxing powerhouse “Lights Out” Toney, his debut fight ending in a predictable loss at the hands of UFC legend Randy Couture. At UFC 118 last August, Couture made quick work of Toney as he took him down and out in the very first round of the fight with an arm-triangle choke. Since then, the decorated boxer has primarily concentrated on his boxing, successfully defending his IBA Heavyweight Championship against Damon Reed. Toney won by unanimous decision scoring the bout 100-90.
On the other hand, the once MMA sensation Ken Shamrock, lost his most recent fight against Mike Bourke which took place on November 25, 2010 in Durban, South Africa and was promoted by the King of the Cage organization. Though Shamrock knocked Bourke down with a hard punch, he experienced a leg injury soon after costing him the contest via TKO in the first round as he was unable to carry on.
The 47-year-old known throughout his career for his impressive physique and his brutal heel submissions (which he used as a trademark move as well in his Pro-Wrestling stint), will most likely approach this fight in the most sensible manner of attack; grapple with Toney, drag him down to the floor and force him into an early submission à la Randy Couture.
For Toney, takedown defence would prove invaluable against the once “Most Dangerous Man” of the fighting world as it would allow him to keep the fight on the feet where assumingly he can apply his boxing skills to do some damage. Though Shamrock is by no means an MMA yardstick anymore, Toney feels that a win over the UFC vet would gain him some fan respect within the mixed martial arts world and could, eventually, offer the opportunity for yet another UFC return.
