HDNet's 'Inside MMA' Breaks Down UFC 118 With Toney, Couture, and Edgar; Plus a Replay of What Could Be the Fight of the Year

DALLAS, Aug. 27 /PRNewswire/ -- The showdown between MMA and boxing is finally here as James Toney and Randy Couture are ready to enter the octagon, but not before one final round of verbal sparring on HDNet's "Inside MMA," TONIGHT at 9:00 p.m. ET on HDNet.

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Both fighters talk about the historic matchup of a boxing champion and a UFC legend, as the raw, unfiltered James Toney tells Kenny Rice in an exclusive interview "ain't no MMA guy ever taken an ass whopping'" and encourages Couture to not "fight like a girl." A cool Couture laughs at the trash talk and plans to teach Toney about the all-around fight game saying, "he underestimates the ground game."

Frankie Edgar joins the panel via satellite from Boston as he prepares for his rematch with BJ Penn.   Even though he's the champion, Edgar says he doesn't feel any different four months into his reign. "I'm still the underdog," says Edgar but "my quickness is still a strength."  

A preview clip with comments from Toney, Couture, and Edgar is available at:

http://www.hd.net/insidemma.html

Plus, UFC Welterweight Mike Swick and Sherdog's Greg Savage join Kenny and Bas on the panel, and in the news, Jon Jones tells Ron Kruck when he is going to fight for the UFC Light Heavyweight title and its stop number one on the Inside America's Gyms tour...Xtreme Couture in Las Vegas.

Immediately following "Inside MMA" at 10:00 p.m. ET will be the primetime debut of "HDNet Fights: Sengoku Raiden Championship 14." In the main event, Kazuo Misaki challenges Jorge Santiago for the SRC Middleweight Title. The back and forth, five round battle is being hailed by journalists and fans as a candidate for the fight of the year.

"Forget Sonnen-Silva or Jung-Garcia, it is Santiago-Misaki that will go down as the fight of 2010 and ranks up there alongside Gomi-Diaz and Nogueira-Cro Cop as one of the greatest MMA fights of all time," said HDNet Fights commentator Michael Schiavello who called the fight live from Tokyo with former UFC star Frank Trigg. "It had everything an epic MMA fight should have: knockdowns from the stand up, near match-ending ground and pound, crazy submissions and escapes, an energized and vocal crowd and drama from the start to the controversial finish that will leave you speechless."

Don't miss a minute of TONIGHT'S full slate of MMA action – only on HDNet!

About HDNet

HDNet (www.hd.net) is the independent network with unique and thought-provoking content that appeals to men of all ages and is delivered in true high definition.

HDNet is the exclusive, high definition home for popular, original programming, including television's only HD news feature programs "HDNet World Report," and the Emmy Award winning "Dan Rather Reports," featuring legendary journalist Dan Rather.  Only HDNet goes beyond the headlines to deliver real news that is redefining the way we look at our world.  HDNet News is provocative, sometimes controversial and always relevant - telling the important stories of our time in-depth, with attitude and with independence. HDNet is also the exclusive high definition home to critically acclaimed and award winning documentaries as part of the InFocus series.  "NASA on HDNet" presents all live shuttle launches through 2010.  

HDNet presents championship sports coverage featuring the best of Mixed Martial Arts with its Friday night series, "HDNet Fights" (www.hdnetfights.com).  "HDNet Fights" works with leading MMA promoters including DREAM, Sengoku, King of the Cage, XFC, K-1, K-1 Max, MFC and more.  HDNet produces more live Mixed Martial Arts events than any other network and HDNet's "Inside MMA" is the hottest Mixed Martial Arts program on television, giving MMA fans their weekly fix for everything MMA, while "Fighting Words with Mike Straka," goes one-on-one with some of the biggest names in the sport. HDNet also features regular season games from the newly formed United Football League.

HDNet also delivers the world's largest and most diverse concert line-up through the HDNet Concert Series.  The HDNet Concert Series features leading artists and bands including Paul McCartney, Mariah Carey, John Mayer, Nickelback and more.  HDNet also features revealing lifestyle programming featuring "Art Mann Presents," "Girls Gone Wild," "Deadline" and "Get Out!"  

Only HDNet Movies (www.hdnetmovies.com) delivers exclusive Sneak Previews of new movies before they hit theaters.  The HDNet Movies Sneak Preview series features top Hollywood stars in critically acclaimed performances including Gwyneth Paltrow, Joaquin Phoenix, Demi Moore, Michael Caine, Tom Hanks, Vera Farmiga, Parker Posey, Brian Cox, Matthew Broderick, Brittany Snow, Eric Bana, John Malkovich, Emily Blunt, Robin Williams, Charlize Theron and Kim Basinger.

In addition to being the exclusive home of Sneak Previews, HDNet Movies viewers enjoy the best films from the classics of the 1950s-1970s, to favorite films from the 1980s and 1990s, to recently released theatrical films.

HDNet Movies offers subscribers a premium movie viewing experience in true HD, and more original movies shot entirely in HD than any other network.

Launched in 2001 by Mark Cuban and General Manager Philip Garvin, the HDNet networks are available on AT&T U-verse, Charter, Comcast, DIRECTV, DISH Network, Insight, and Verizon FiOS. 

The HDNet networks can be followed via Facebook at facebook.com/HDNet, facebook.com/HDNetFights and facebook.com/HDNetMovies and via Twitter at twitter.com/hdnet, twitter.com/hdnetfights and twitter.com/hdnetmovies.

SOURCE HDNet

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