HDNet Fights files lawsuit against Zuffa

According to Adam Swift of Sherdog.com, Mark Cuban's HDNet Fights has filed a lawsuit against Zuffa and the UFC in order to find out what Randy Couture's actual contractual status is:

On Wednesday, in district court in Dallas, HDNet Fights filed suit against Zuffa seeking a declaratory judgment concerning the contractual status of Couture under his Zuffa promotional contract. In an ironic twist, Zuffa's co-defendant in the suit is technically none other than Couture himself.

Couture had fired the first shot in what has become a heated legal battle when he officially resigned from the UFC on Oct. 11, 2007. A war of words ensued -- complete with dueling news conferences and frequent, often testy, verbal sparring in the media -- that culminated in a lawsuit filed by Zuffa in Nevada district court on Jan. 14.

The lawsuit filed by HDNet Fights asks the Texas court to provide the company with declaratory relief -- a ruling on when Couture's promotional contract will expire. A favorable ruling could clear the way for a highly anticipated showdown between Couture and Fedor Emelianenko (Pictures) this fall, potentially promoted by HDNet Fights.

The Texas lawsuit represents the first direct legal challenge of Couture's promotional contract with the UFC.

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Sam Caplan

Lead Writer/Editor - ProElite.com

SamCaplan.ProElite.com