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Attorneys for Zuffa, Inc., the parent company for UFC (Ultimate Fighting Championships) filed suit on Monday in Clark County District Court (Las Vegas, Nevada) against UFC World Heavyweight Champion Randy Couture, alleging that Couture's comments about the UFC and its senior management caused the business irreparable damage, and that Couture is also in breach of the contract he signed with Zuffa/UFC in December 2006.

Couture, the reigning UFC World Heavyweight Champion, announced his resignation from Zuffa/UFC on October 11, 2007.  According to leading Mixed Martial Arts news site MMA News Desk, the complaint alleges that Couture signed a 3 year employment contract with Zuffa in December 2006 that included a one-year non-compete provision. Zuffa says that the clock starting ticking on the one year non-compete period when Couture announced his resignation from Zuffa/UFC on October 11, 2007.  Zuffa claims that any "business enterprise" associated with Couture is prohibited from "promoting or producing events or programming related to unarmed combat, developing products or services related to unarmed combat, or otherwise conducting any business relating to unarmed combat."

"We are alleging numerous intentional torts, which have caused Zuffa and the UFC significant harm," exclaimed Zuffa attorney Donald J. Campbell,  "Based upon that harm we are seeking to address these matters before a court of law."

The lawsuit alleges that Couture's negative statements about the company constituted "injurious falsehood and trade disparagement," that has led to significant financial losses for the UFC. The lawsuit also alleges conspiracy, stating that several unnamed parties to be identified at a later date worked with Couture to intentionally inflict harm on the UFC, specifically that prior to Oct. 11,  Couture "devised and began implementing a tortuous scheme and artifice whereby he and others acting on his behalf 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."

The lawsuit alleges  that "the purpose of these false claims was to form a pretextual basis for Couture to claim that Zuffa's senior management was not honest in its commercial dealings and thereby provide Couture with a pretext for dishonoring his own obligations owed to Zuffa. In so doing, Couture and others in concert with him committed a series of intentional torts and breaches."

The lawsuit seeks damages in excess of $10,000 and states that the amount of both compensatory and punitive damages would be proven at trial. The lawsuit also seeks an injunction restraining Couture from participating in any way in any promotion competing against the UFC. This comes just days after MMA News Desk.com exclusively posted comments from IFL spokesman Jerry Milani regarding the struggling league's decision to promote Couture's training camp as a major part of the 2008 IFL season.

When asked by MMA News Desk.com about Randy Couture's participation in the upcoming season in conjunction with his Xtreme Couture camp being featured on IFL events, Milani stated, "At the moment, it is Team Xtreme Couture, referring to his gym, with the official coach To Be Determined."

Zuffa alleges that Couture has permitted the IFL to use his name and likeness on the IFL Web site in promoting the event the February 29 IFL event in Las Vegas that features Xtreme Couture.  Based on the advertising in their own hometown, Zuffa is asking for injunctive relief.

Zuffa's lawsuit spells out UFC's contributions to Mixed Martial Arts since Zuffa purchased the promotion 8 years ago. The suit then states "regrettably, however, several organizations have sought to unfairly compete against Zuffa and to improperly capitalize on the immense popularity of Zuffa's UFC brand by intentionally interfering with Zuffa's brand and contractual rights. Such is the case here."

UFC President Dana White, who has been very careful in his war of words with the immensely popular Couture, said "What's really tough for me, to be honest, is we have been friends for a very long time," the Ultimate Fight Prexy stated, "The hard part is that he is not living up to his obligations. Captain America is not keeping his word."

White told the media today, "I expect Randy to honor the obligations in his contract that he signed (a year ago). I tried to resolve it by talking to this guy that I've had a relationship with for eight years and was unsuccessful. Now this thing's in the hands of the justice system."