UFC sues Couture for breach of contract

The Ultimate Fighting Championship this week sued its heavyweight champion, Randy Couture, for breach of contract and conspiracy, alleging he is associating too closely with the mixed martial arts rival International Fight League.

Couture, who defended his UFC belt with an August victory over Gabriel Gonzaga, resigned from the UFC in October, citing financial complaints.

In a lawsuit filed in Clark County, Nev., attorneys for UFC’s parent company, Zuffa, allege Couture “devised and began implementing a tortious scheme whereby he … would fabricate a false and fictitious history of events in which Couture was purportedly lied to and otherwise personally abused by Zuffa in a series of bad faith acts and unfair dealings.”

Because of Couture’s comments at an October news conference that some UFC bonuses were paid “off the books,” that he was deprived of certain bonuses and that UFC President Dana White had lied to the fighter, UFC officials claim they’ve suffered the “loss of certain business opportunities, the loss of business reputation and good will… . ”

Although White has previously maintained that Couture owes the UFC two more fights before he can join another MMA organization, the lawsuit did acknowledge Couture’s Oct. 2007 resignation activated a 12-month “restricted period” during which Couture, 44, could not “compete” with the UFC before his obligation to the company ends in October.

By announcing this month that an “Xtreme Couture” team named after Couture’s Las Vegas gym and apparel business was joining the International Fight League and scheduled to fight Feb. 29 in Las Vegas, the UFC contends the fighter breached his contract. The lawsuit claims Couture has also allowed the IFL to use his name and likeness on its website.

A spokesman for Couture said the fighter is not coaching or fighting in the IFL, and IFL spokesman Joe Favorito said in an e-mail Tuesday that, “the team … is from the Couture camp, which is where the fighters train [many of whom were IFL athletes with existing contracts]. We have no formal relationship with Randy. He is their trainer and we believe that Sean Tompkins will coach the athletes that night in the ring.

“Randy is not a signed IFL coach like Pat Miletich or Matt Lindland or Renzo Gracie. We are not using Randy’s full name or likeness in any advertising in any way. Our focus is on the athletes and their camp, since that is what fans want to see.”

White was not available for comment Tuesday. The organization has scheduled an interim heavyweight title fight between Antonio Rodrigo Noguiera and Tim Sylvia on Feb. 2 in Las Vegas.