There was no need to stand and trade punches with a man who will more than likely be enshrined into the Boxing Hall of Fame when his career is all over. Randy Couture was out to prove that James Toney was in his world and that his world was no place for the marble-mouthed, trash talking pugilist. Not only did he prove his point, he did so with authority.

For months Toney has been telling anyone who would listen that mixed martial arts was not in the same league as boxing. "Lights Out" was so sure that he would get an opportunity to touch Couture's chin and knock out the 47-year-old UFC legend. Toney had only trained for his MMA debut for nine months and his entire entourage was supremely confident and amazed at how quickly Toney picked up the finer points of mixed martial arts.

All it took was 16 seconds, one quarter of one minute and Toney was on his back flopping around like a fish out of water. Couture hasn't gotten as far as he has by being stupid. He has long been regarded as one of the greatest tacticians in the history of the sport. It didn't take much thought or planning to know that Toney would have no defense for Couture's takedowns, his ground and pound and the subsequent submission attempts that would follow once Couture had softened up the 41-year-old Toney.

Boxing fans can cry all they want that Couture refused to stand and trade with Toney, but they weren't engaged in a boxing match, they were fighting under the unified rules of mixed martial arts. Toney chose to step into Couture's world and "The Natural" chose to dump Toney on his ass and choke him out. Would things have gone differently had this been contested in a ring and with 10 ounce gloves as opposed to the four ounce gloves they wear in MMA? Of course it would have, but unfortunately for Toney that is not what he signed up for.

While the debate will go on for the foreseeable future, maybe Couture was able to gain the respect of some boxing fans and boxers alike. Why can't these two sports co-exist and both prosper? Each sport will always have their die hard fans, but as more and more people become exposed to MMA and how special these athletes are, then they can begin to enjoy what the rest of us have been for the past few years.

When Toney came in and wanted to show the world that mixed martial artists were nothing more than a bunch of sissies rolling around on the floor grabbing each other, the sport needed a man who is respected by all and who was willing to take the pressure of defending the sports honor on his shoulders. That man was Randy Couture and once again he didn't disappoint. He's been doing it for a long time and it seems when the sport needs a true representative they can always count on Couture.