Its official! The UFC’s parent company, Zuffa, LLC, filed a lawsuit in Clark County District court against five time UFC champion and overall MMA idol Randy “The Natural” Couture. The suit alleges that certain comments Couture made regarding the UFC staff and senior management caused the business “irreparable” damage and that he is also in breach of the contract he signed to come back out of retirement in December 2006.
The conflict between fighter and organization had been brewing since Couture announced his resignation from the UFC in October last year. Not only was “The Natural” upset with UFC management, but he also wanted to close out his career by fighting the widely regarded #1 Heavyweight in the world (and suspected Cyborg) Fedor Emelianenko.
Before the announcement, Couture was confident a fight with Fedor, who opted not to sign with the UFC, would be possible later this year when he was free from his obligation to Zuffa. With the suit, though, extensive court procedures may render Couture unable to fight because blah blah blah blah.
The real question is: What does this mean for the fans?
First off, it throws Randy’s career and the dream match-up between himself and Fedor into limbo. Despite Randy repeatedly saying he won’t go back to the UFC unless he’s fighting the Russian, by the time Zuffa’s lawyers get done with him he may be chained to the Octagon and forced to fight a pack of wolves for free. Unlikely, but you never know…
Secondly, Fedor and M-1 Global, the organization he chose over the UFC, will likely have to move on. They can’t wait forever for a match-up with the aging Couture to materialize. Though a fight with Josh Barnett - another fighter not signed by the UFC, due to some apparent beef with UFC president Dana White - is also ideal, it never helps when the playing field is limited.
Thirdly, the interim title fight between Tim Sylvia and “Minotauro” Nogueira is still confusing. Interim titles are made of some special material, apparently, because if Couture ends up leaving the UFC, the interim title the two are fighting for may suddenly transform into the real Heavyweight title. If Couture remains, however unlikely, then the “interim” title will be useless since the winner will have to fight Couture for the real title.
Fourthly, the politics are hurting the sport and, most importantly, the fans. From great fighters not being signed because of personal grudges to legends being tied up in the courtroom instead of the cage, the biggest losers in this fight are the ones who enjoy mixed martial arts the most.
Technorati Tags: Randy Couture, Zuffa, UFC, Dana White, Lorenzo Fertitta
Written by Moses Utomi - Visit Website
No comments yet.