Last night we realized that not even an illustrious boxing career can prevent a takedown from Randy Couture. We also learned that 100% of the time, a boxer coming into MMA will be defeated by an MMA fighter. Actually, we should have learned our lesson in 1993, but sometime in between those seventeen years we forgot. I think today will be the last time the name ‘James Toney’ is used on MiddleEasy. I could be wrong, however. Dream could pick him up for their Super Hulk tourney which doesn’t sound that unreasonable considering the fact that even Jose Canseco had a shot last year. A new week is upon us which means an new edition of the Sunday Morning Rumor Mill. Enjoy.
- A fight between BJ Penn and Takanori Gomi is what a lot of you have been clamoring over, however according to a few Japanese sources it looks like Takanori Gomi will face Nate Diaz for a contender spot perhaps by the end of the year.
- Wagnney Fabiano vs Brian Bowles will most likely happen at WEC 52.
- Depending on the veracity of some of the rumored bouts on the card, HDNet is toying with the idea of picking up Deep 50 which will be aired live. No word on the commentating team if this happens.
- Last night, James Toney refused to attend the post-fight press conference stating that he was angry at Dana White for something he said after his failed MMA debut.
- Jason Guida was slated to take part in TUF 12 until ZUFFA decided to can the light heavyweight division from the show.
- Satoshi Ishii is scheduled to take part in Sengoku 15.
- Earlier this week it was reported that James Toney would make anywhere from $750,000 – $1,000,000 at UFC 118. It looks like he was guaranteed $750,000.
- Despite White saying ‘there will be no more boxing in the UFC’, James Toney hasn’t officially been cut by the UFC as of this morning.
- Dream 17 hasn’t been canceled, just temporarily postponed much like what happened at Dream 13.
- Not really a rumor, but if you go back to the 2:08 mark of James Toney vs. Randy Couture, Mario Yamasaki says ‘You know what why don’t you tap out, huh?‘
- Toe 2 Toe still owes Spencer Fisher money that was promised to him months ago.
- Some beef between Dana White and BJ Penn was revived at some point before UFC 118. It looks like BJ Penn took offense to something Dana White said.
- A very loose rumor, however Edgar vs. Maynard will be slated to co-main event Anderson Silva vs. Chael Sonnen II.
- Jeremy Horn is in talks with the UFC to return to the organization by the end of the year.
- Chad Griggs vs. Brett Rogers will most likely happen in Strikeforce within the next few months.
- FEG has been working with Bellator to get some of their roster to partake in Dream 16.
- I mentioned it earlier in the week, M-1 Global is currently trying to assemble a fight between Fedor and Blagoi Ivanov, the guy who defeated Emelianenko in Sambo in in the semi-finals of the 2008 World Sambo Championships. The fight is being pinned to take place in Russia sometime this winter. I was also told the Fedor is severely disappointed of this outcome.
