Couture Signed to Face Toney at UFC 118

Randy Couture’s contract has been signed, sealed, and delivered to face former pro boxer James Toney at UFC 118 on August 28 at the TD Garden in Boston, the fighting legend confirmed with Sherdog.com on Tuesday.

Following internal discussions between the camps and promotion regarding a catch-weight for the bout, Couture, who turns 47 on June 22, said he’ll face Toney at heavyweight. Sherdog.com has not yet been able to ascertain if Toney has submitted his bout agreement as well.

The 41-year-old former IBF middleweight and super middleweight champion signed a multi-fight contract with the promotion last March following the boxer’s public campaign to join the UFC’s ranks. Toney attended back-to-back UFC events in November and December, and video of White and Toney in impromptu discussions even surfaced online.

Toney’s flirtation in the UFC has been ongoing, while a bout with the four-time Olympic wrestling alternate the has loomed for years. In October 2006, Couture said he was called by the promotion with a potential bout against the pro boxer that never came to fruition.

The bout marks Couture’s third stint in the promotion’s heavyweight division. Since losing the title to current heavyweight champion Brock Lesnar at UFC 91 in November 2008 and a unanimous decision defeat to Pride Fighting Championships counterpart Antonio Rodrigo Nogueira, Couture has notched back-to-back wins against Brandon Vera and Mark Coleman in light heavyweight bouts. Couture submitted the fellow UFC Hall of Famer in the second round at UFC 109 last February.

Couture will also juggle publicity duties for the Aug. 13 wide release of “The Expendables,” the Sylvester Stallone-helmed action film, which Couture has a supporting role in.