More Details Regarding Couture/Emelianenko Meeting

Warchief · #1 (**permalink**) 08-13-2008, 03:02 AM

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Former/Current UFC heavyweight champion Randy Couture and reigning WAMMA heavyweight champion Fedor Emelianenko were in Los Angeles, California together on Monday with their representatives for a meeting. It has not been confirmed what their meeting was about, however 5thRound.com sources stated that the two fighters and their representatives met with representatives from the Wasserman Media Group (WMG) in their downtown Los Angeles office.

The WMG is recognized as a leading global sports management company, representing athletes in all major sports. Their Property and Media division specializes in negotiating television rights, packaging assets and developing investment strategies for sports and entertainment properties.

It is unknown exactly what the WMG was pitching to the two championship fighters, however it must have been important as they were both at the office for the entire day.

It has been rumored that the two were meeting about a promotion involving Affliction Entertainment, however 5thRound.com sources confirmed that there were no Affliction representatives in attendance for any part of the meeting.

This is the second time that the two fighters have been seen together, the first was after Affliction’s debut MMA promotion in July where Emelianenko won the WAMMA title. After the bout, the two fighters spoke graciously in the ring about each other, both asking for an opportunity to face off.

Emelianenko is free and clear contractually to fight 46-year old Couture, however Couture is still in the middle of a legal battle with his former employer, the UFC, to be officially relieved from his contract. Couture resigned from the company last October, forfeiting his title.

Couture states that he signed a four fight, 18-month contract with the UFC in 2006. He has already completed two of those fights, however once he found out that the UFC was not going to be unable to sign Emelianenko, he resigned. From his understanding, his contract is set to expire after the initial 18 month period from when he first signed the agreement, which has since passed, even if there are two fights remaining on his deal.

The UFC claims that Couture still owes them the two remaining fights on his contract before he is allowed to fight for another promotion, regardless of time.

Couture has been complying with the one year, non-complete clause from his UFC contract since his resignation. That is set to expire on October 10th, and it is at that point he feels he will be able to face Emelianenko. It is unclear which sides’ interpretation of the contract is correct, as they will let the Nevada Court system figure it out.

Source

ILJO · #2 (**permalink**) 08-13-2008, 03:18 AM

Ive been thinking, isnt Couture right about the 18 months?

Because if the contract was specifically for 4 fights, no matter what the time span, as the UFC claims, then why is it a 4 fight - 18 month contract and not just a 4 fight contract?

Frag x 3 · #3 (**permalink**) 08-13-2008, 03:19 AM

His non-compete would have been over on the day before the next Affliction show?

Beowulf · #4 (**permalink**) 08-13-2008, 03:27 AM

Maybe it's 4 fights-18 months, saying he'll fight 4 times in 18 months, otherwise he could take like a year off between fights? Thats what I'm guesing.

kalebarker · #5 (**permalink**) 08-13-2008, 03:58 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by ILJO

Ive been thinking, isnt Couture right about the 18 months?

Because if the contract was specifically for 4 fights, no matter what the time span, as the UFC claims, then why is it a 4 fight - 18 month contract and not just a 4 fight contract?

It's a 4 fight 18 month contract with a "champion's clause" in it that allows the ufc to extend to time period its in effect.

jhell · #6 (**permalink**) 08-13-2008, 09:50 AM

I'm pretty sure the UFC would grind this out until Randy's 50 for all they care. Just out of spite, they don't care if he ever fights again. Sucks.

vore9000 · #7 (**permalink**) 08-13-2008, 05:10 PM

Sheesh he's 46 now. O.O

hunterkiller · #8 (**permalink**) 08-13-2008, 05:17 PM

Can anyone document with proof this so called "champion extension clause" in the UFC's contracts?

Dimson · #9 (**permalink**) 08-13-2008, 05:29 PM

He should have to give back his signing bonus if he is let out of his contract. And I say that is just a minimum. If he wanted out of his contract so bad, which the UFC didn't owe him since he lost his last 2 fights prior to re-signing, he should have included a buy out clause or a if-you-don't-sign-fedor clause. He signed the contract and he should have just had his last 2 fights and been done with it. he could have fought Nog plus someone else and been done with it by now. But IMO he is affraid if he loses or gets injured he would never be able to fight Fedor becasue no one would really care at that point.

TriangleChoke · #10 (**permalink**) 08-13-2008, 05:36 PM

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Originally Posted by thecoylewis

Can anyone document with proof this so called "champion extension clause" in the UFC's contracts?

I posted a sherdog article a while back that explained the champions clause but I can't seem to find it. I did find this though

Analysis of Couture's Chances of Excaping his Contract