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Steve Roe

Nov 11, 2009 Nov 11, 2009 4 0

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MMAmania.com WEC 33 predictions and preview for Marshall vs. Stann

wec 33
Ringside hosts, Todd Harris and Frank Mir, are back at The Joint at the Hard Rock Hotel and Casino in Las Vegas, Nevada, for WEC Live this Wednesday night. The card is highlighted by a light-heavyweight title fight between Doug Marshall and Brian Stann and includes several other compelling match-ups.

Coverage begins at 9 p.m. ET on Versus. We've still got to wait more than 24 hours until the action begins; therefore, let's go through the complete card and provide some predictions of the winners.

Here we go:

Continue reading this post »

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MMAmania.com Randy Couture signs HDNet Fight contract that will be effective when UFC term expires

randy couture UFC lawsuitAdditional details have emerged regarding the recent lawsuit that HDNet Fights and its owner, Mark Cuban, filed against Zuffa LLC and Ultimate Fighting Championship (UFC) in a Texas court.

According Adam Swift at Sherdog.com, embattled UFC Heavyweight Champion Randy Couture -- who relinquished his strap in late 2007 -- and HDNet Fights have entered into a contract that begins when "The Natural's" UFC promotional contract and non-compete clause expire in October 2008.

At that time, it's believed that HDNet Fights intention is to promote a megafight between Couture and Fedor Emilianenko in Dallas, Texas. Without a contract with Couture, HDNet Fights would be unable to go to court because there would be nothing to "adjudicate."

The point of contention between Couture and Zuffa is the employment contract between the two. Zuffa contends that Couture still owes the UFC two fights, while Couture believes that his responsibility to those fights was eliminated with his resignation, leaving only his promotional contract and non-compete clause.

Cuban and HDNet Fights contend that Zuffa's position regarding Couture is illegal because it interferes with his ability to seek gainful employment and practice his craft. As there is a small window though which Couture can compete as an elite-level athlete, HDNet Fights will look to expedite the court decision.

It's important to note that Texas law prohibits indefinite employment restrictions such as the restrictions Zuffa is attempting to place on Couture.

The current lawsuit also acknowledges the lawsuit brought by Zuffa against Couture and notes that HDNet Fights does not intend for its contract with Couture to interfere with any existing contract between Couture and Zuffa.

Couture's contract with HDNet Fights will only become valid after the promotional agreement between Couture and Zuffa either expires or a court rules it void and/or unenforceable.

Stay tuned for more on this developing story.

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MMAmania.com HDNets Mark Cuban gets in on the legal battle between Randy Couture and UFC

mark cuban hdnet fights
As if the situation between Randy Couture and the UFC couldn't get any messier it just did.

Mark Cuban and HDNet Fights filed a lawsuit against Zuffa and the UFC on Wednesday in a
Dallas district court regarding the promotional contract status of Randy Couture, according to Sherdog.com.

The lawsuit seeks "declaratory relief -- a ruling on when Couture's promotional contract expires." Oddly, the lawsuit actually names both Couture and Zuffa as co-defendants.

The employment contract between Couture and Zuffa -- the part that guaranteed four fights -- has been the crux of Zuffa's complaint against Couture in Nevada.

Couture has stated that he believes his contract expires 18 months from when it was signed, which would be October 2008. UFC President Dana White and the UFC still maintain that "The Natural" owes them two fights.

The lawsuit from HDNet Fights concerns the promotional portion of the contract -- a portion that has not been made available in public court as of yet. Essentially, Cuban wants a judge to interpret the contract and issue an official ruling on what it actually means.

Up until now, again, it has been a he said-she said in terms of how to interpret the employment contract.

Couture believes that by resigning from Zuffa and UFC he terminated the employment (fights) portion of his contract and only has the promotional and non-compete portion remaining, which expire in October.

Zuffa's position is that Couture can void the two remaining fights on his contract only if he is completely retired from MMA (he is not ... he has clamored for a future fight with Fedor Emelianenko).

Furthermore, Zuffa believes that he is in violation of his non-compete clause because of his perceived involvement with the International Fight League and has recently filed a lawsuit in Nevada court claiming "irreparable harm."

Regardless, a ruling in favor of HDNet Fights could open the door to a mega-fight between Couture and Fedor Emilianenko sometime this fall. In fact, the HDNet Fights lawsuit seeks a quick resolution to the matter in the hopes that Couture will be free by October so HDNet Fights can promote a Couture-Emelianenko match.

Don't hold your breath ... who knows how all of this is going to unravel.

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MMAmania.com HDNet Fights to air Strikeforce, IFL and the fight debut of Kim Couture

hdnet strikeforce ifl
Mark Cuban's HDNet Fights has been wheeling an dealing this entire month, securing partnerships to air high-profile mixed martial arts events on its growing network.

The latest news is a deal with the San Jose-based Strikeforce promotion under which the network will televise four events, beginning with "Strikeforce at the Dome" on February 23 from Tacoma, Wash. The main event of the nine-fight card features a superheavyweight clash between Bob "The Beast" Sapp and Jan "The Giant" Nortje.

Strikeforce also has the Frank Shamrock-Cung Le fight lined up in March. However, that event will more than likely air on Showtime because it is a joint effort with EliteXC.

In other news, HDNet Fights will also air the debut fight of Kim Couture -- wife of Randy "The Natural" Couture. The boxing/muay thai "smoker event" will take place at the Xtreme Couture Gym in Las Vegas, Nevada, on February 29.

The Kim Couture bout will air immediately after the live IFL event from the Orleans Arena, which is also slated to go down in "Sin City." In fact, HDNet Fights will also broadcast the first three IFL events of 2008 under a new agreement.

There's lots to watch for those fortunate enough to get the HDNet Fights network. Check local television line ups for more details.

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