Tuesday, January 15, 2008

UFC sues its heavyweight champion

Zuffa, LLC, the UFC's parent company, filed suit in Clark County, Nevada District Court Monday, alleging UFC champion Randy Couture's comments about the company's senior management caused the UFC irreparable damage and that he is in breach of the contract he signed in December 2006.

"We are alleging numerous intentional torts, which have caused Zuffa and the UFC significant harm," attorney Donald J. Campbell told the Las Vegas Review Journal. "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 asks the amount of both compensatory and punitive damages would be proven at trial. It also seeks an injunction restraining Couture from participating in any promotion competing against the UFC.

Couture would like to fight Fedor Emelianenko for the fledgling M1 MMA promotion..

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

Couture is still listed as the UFC heavyweight champion as a legal tactic, even though he resigned from the company on October 11 of last year. Couture has claimed UFC owner Lorenzo Fertitta and White used "under the table bonuses" to usurp the pay scale in the company.

Antonio Rodrigo Nogueira and Tim Sylvia square off for the interim UFC heavyweight title on February 2 in Las Vegas.

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