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Jan. 15, 2008
Copyright © Las Vegas Review-Journal

Couture is target of UFC lawsuit

Heavyweight champ in breach of contract, MMA group claims

By ADAM HILL
REVIEW-JOURNAL
More Info

The strained relationship between the Ultimate Fighting Championship and its heavyweight champion Randy Couture has taken another bad turn -- directly into a Las Vegas courtroom.

Lawyers for Zuffa, LLC, the UFC's parent company, on Monday filed suit in Clark County District Court, alleging chiefly that Couture's comments about the UFC and its senior management caused the business irreparable damage and that he is in breach of the contract he signed with the company in December 2006.

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    • "We are alleging numerous intentional torts, which have caused Zuffa and the UFC significant harm," attorney Donald J. Campbell said. "Based upon that harm we are seeking to address these matters before a court of law."

    The lawsuit seeks damages in excess of $10,000 and states that the amount of both compensatory and punitive damages would be proven at trial. It also seeks an injunction restraining Couture from participating in any way in any promotion competing against the UFC.

    The lawsuit is the latest episode of discord between Couture and UFC President Dana White, who said he has considered Couture a friend for eight years.

    "What's really tough for me, to be honest, is we have been friends for a very long time," White said. "The hard part is that he is not living up to his obligations. Captain America is not keeping his word."

    Couture is listed as the UFC heavyweight champion, even though the fighter and organization have been engaged in a public dispute that included his resignation from the company. An interim title match has been scheduled.

    The tense relationship between Couture and the UFC, namely White and co-owner Lorenzo Fertitta, became public on Oct. 11 when Couture held a news conference at his Las Vegas gym. Couture detailed his frustrations with the company and announced he was resigning from the UFC.

    Couture claimed Fertitta and White had lied to him; that the company paid "off-the-books" bonuses to fighters; that he never was paid a signing bonus that had been negotiated in his December 2006 contract; and that the company treated many of its athletes poorly.

    Fertitta and White held their own news conference the following week, during which they addressed Couture's allegations and produced copies of checks cashed by Couture, including the signing bonus. The checks showed the heavyweight to be making much more money than he had claimed.

    In the months since, the battle of words has continued and the sides have been unable to work things out.

    "I expect Randy to honor the obligations in his contract that he signed (a year ago). I tried to resolve it by talking to this guy that I've had a relationship with for eight years and was unsuccessful," White said. "Now this thing's in the hands of the justice system."

    Monday's lawsuit claims Couture's negative statements about the company constituted "injurious falsehood and trade disparagement," that has led to significant financial losses for the UFC.

    The lawsuit also alleges conspiracy, stating that several unnamed parties to be identified at a later date worked with Couture to intentionally inflict harm on the UFC.

    According to the lawsuit, Couture is also in breach of a stipulation that prohibits him from engaging in "direct or indirect competition" with the UFC for a period of 12 months following the termination of his contract.

    Thus, Couture's sponsorship and promotion of a team in the International Fight League would be in direct violation of the stipulation. Currently, the IFL's Web site lists Couture's Xtreme Couture team taking on Mario Sperry's World Class Fight Center at the IFL's Feb. 29 card at the Orleans Arena.

    A message left on Couture's cell phone on Monday was not returned.

    Contact reporter Adam Hill at ahill@reviewjournal.com or (702) 224-5509.

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    Jason wrote on February 21, 2008 10:17 PM: RANDY IN MY OPINION IS THE ONE AND ONLY EVER LASTING LEGEND OF THE UFC!TO BEAT TWO LIGHT HEAVYWEIGHT CHAMPS AND THEN STEP UP AND BEAT THE HEAVYWEIGHT CHAMPS (DAVID AND GOLIATH. RANDY SHOULD BE A FREE AGENT AND POSTER BOY FOR UFC AND ALL AFFILIATIONS.

    SIRRJASON@YAHOO.COM


    benjamin hutchings wrote on February 09, 2008 08:02 PM: its sad that a great fighter like randy does not agree with the new ufc. thats what it is a new ufc. dana white revived ufc and now fighters get paid. i love randy but i love ufc better.


    Roy Duncan wrote on February 03, 2008 12:58 PM: I think the ufc is making a mistake. I like this company and I hate to see this happen to them. I felt that Dana White did Tito Ortiz wrong, and publicly supported the iceman over him. I like both fighters and I hate to see this elementary school type of rivalry rip apart the ufc. Losing Randy was a great loss to the ufc and the fans who are the main support of the ufc. Maybe Dana should back off a little for the sake of the company. More and more organizations are coming along everyday now, and they're aiming right at the king of them all, The ufc. I think a lot of Dana and I hope he can deal with this situation before it does too much damage to the company.


    Joe Jackson wrote on February 01, 2008 04:08 PM: If the Ufc signed Fedor, we would not have this problem now!!!! I think Dana White lured Randy in to another contract promising a fight with the best heavyweight in the world!!! Dana dind't come through, so Randy souldn't either!!


    Dave wrote on January 29, 2008 06:05 PM: i think dana white is nothing more then an over paid whimp i really hope randy kicks your butts in court then after court kicks your butt ufc is going downhill and wont be arround much longer since they have to bring in W.W.E. wrestlers to fight there matches is this why the ufc hasnt released there xbox360 game i think so get rid of dana white...


    Fight_Fan wrote on January 28, 2008 02:58 PM: Randy Couture has been listening to the wrong people! Randy, are you reading this? You need to quit the people that are blowing smoke up your rear and think for yourself. The deal that you've made with your new agents is a deal with the devil.
    Think about it!


    dana white's my bitch wrote on January 27, 2008 01:38 PM: dana white is a petty little girl. dana white can’t stand the fact that someone’s actually standing up to him and the ufc and as a result, they’re doing everything they can to punish couture.

    this lawsuit just shows white and the ufc’s true colors. they’re the mma equivalent of don king. they’re bullies in the truest sense of the word and will disregard friendship and loyalty over the almighty dollar.


    The Humungus wrote on January 25, 2008 08:50 AM: Did Couture ever say he was promised a signing bonus and didn't receive it?

    In his original press conference (still available on the internet) he said he had been paid everything that was promised, that he asked for a signing bonus and didn't get one. He did say he got a 500,000 "locker room" bonus.

    Now Dana is saying Randy got a 250,000 "signing bonus" and a 250,000 "locker room" bonus.

    That's splitting hairs, and a substantially different situation from Randy being owed money.


    johnson wrote on January 23, 2008 07:25 AM: is randy "show me the money" couture gonna share with us how much he makes off of those goofy t-shirts?


    gabe wrote on January 22, 2008 04:46 PM: who can reckon the dollar value of that undeserved heavyweight title shot?


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