UFC News & Quotes: Brock Lesnar's Book, James Toney, Anthony Johnson

Is Toney really ready?

In what will undoubtedly be the strangest fight of the Zuffa era, former boxing champion James Toney will take on former UFC champion Randy Couture. The fight will mark Toney’s MMA debut.

The reason Toney secured the highly publicized bout is due to his following UFC President Dana White across the country.

“I’m looking forward to fighting him,” Toney said of his future opponent. “Randy’s a great fighter, and I’m a great boxer. I’m also a great fighter period.”

Toney’s only advantage coming into the fight will be in boxing/striking. He does claim to be preparing for the other aspects of the sport as well.

“I hope he doesn’t try to lay on me because if he tries to lay on me the fight is really going to end early,” Toney said, insinuating that he is working on submissions.

Toney’s confidence quickly evaporated. When asked how his mat skills are coming along, he instead spoke about Couture, the highly decorated former amateur wrestler.

“How’s his? Why are you asking me about mine?”

Whether it is just hype or what he truly believes, White is attempting to play up Toney’s chances.

“James Toney is a real fighter,” White said. “He’s going to try to knock out Randy Couture.”

Lesnar biography

Brock Lesnar is clearly one of the most polarizing figures in any sport.

On one hand, he is booed vociferously whenever he appears on camera.

On the other, his fights are routinely the main events on UFC’s highest drawing cards of the year.

Now, the usually reclusive Lesnar plans to make everything about himself public. Lesnar and his former World Wrestling Entertainment manager turned close friend, Paul Heyman, are collaborating on the champion’s story.

“We’ve been writing the book,” Heyman said. “We talked about his childhood, his high school years, and his college years. We’ve gone through stuff about his parents, his grandparents, and his brothers.”

One topic Lesnar has not gone into too much detail about was his volatile departure from pro wrestling. That may very well change.

“We will be talking about what went right in WWE and what went wrong in WWE.”

Koscheck vs. Johnson II?

One fighter that will have a keen interest in the Josh Koscheck vs. Georges St. Pierre fight is former Koscheck opponent, Anthony Johnson.

Koscheck defeated Johnson with a rear-naked choke back in November 2009 at UFC 106.

As Koscheck prepares for St. Pierre, Johnson weighed in with his opinion on the welterweight title fight.

“Koscheck will get his *** whupped,” Johnson said, clearly angling for a rematch. “I don’t know if he’s going to try stand up or take him down, but either way, he’s going to lose the fight – standing or on the ground. He can’t win.”

Johnson went on to talk about the first fight between himself and Koscheck.

“I was messing him up in the stand-up game until he took me down, and everyone knows that is my weakness,” Johnson said. “I’m training my ass off with my jiu-jitsu right now.”

“Trust me, I am not getting submitted anytime soon, and if someone’s going to be doing some submitting, it’s going to be me.”

Johnson’s return to the cage has been delayed due to a torn meniscus. He believes it will take about a year to get back to fighting.

“I just really started training again full-time,” Johnson said. “Hopefully, I’ll be back by November or December.”

His return to the cage will again be in the welterweight division. Even though he walks around at well above the 170 lb limit, Johnson feels that is his ideal fighting weight.

“I’m 215 right now,” Johnson said. “I can lose 17 lbs in a week of water. I’ll still fight at 170 and kick everyone’s ass.”

Ultimate Return

Court McGee has reached a whole new level of stardom with his recent victor over Chris McCray on the Ultimate Fighter.

“Lots of people come up to me,” McGee said. “Everyone is super gracious.”

Before long, McGee is going to have to step back into the cage-only this time it will not be against other unproven fighters on a reality show. He will have to test his mettle against other UFC fighters.

He is ready for the challenge.

“They haven’t said who it will be,” McGee said, “but whoever they put in front of me I will fight and win.”

As for the return date, McGee said that it would be sometime in October or November.