Bodog Beat

Once his UFC contract expires, Randy Couture will fight Emelianenko at HDNet fights, the mixed martial arts event owned by Mark Cuban. (AP Images)

As the legal dispute between the UFC and Randy Couture (16-8-0) continues, mixed martial arts fans are getting a glimpse of what the future might hold for "The Natural".

Recently, billionaire Mark Cuban entered the fray, filing a lawsuit against the UFC owners in a Texas court, asking for a ruling regarding when Couture's employment contract is due to expire, if at all. According to Zuffa LLC, parent company of the UFC, the agreement that Couture signed does not have an expiry date and remains valid under a "retirement clause". Both Couture and Cuban disagree.

"Zuffa's position regarding Couture is both illegal and involves critical timing," Cuban's filing states. "First, like all fighters, Couture's ability to fight at a championship level will diminish as he ages. Through their actions, Zuffa seeks to ensure that Couture is prevented from gainful employment and practicing his craft until he cannot be an elite fighter. Importantly, the law in Texas is clear that indefinite employment restrictions such as Zuffa claims to be enforcing are per se illegal and against public policy."

According to the document, Couture has entered into a a contract with HDNet Fights that is scheduled to commence once his UFC contract expires. This is the first step towards a fight against top-ranked Russian heavyweight Fedor Emelianenko (27-1-0), the only man Couture is interested in fighting.

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