Bodog Beat

Randy Couture says that the UFC is being stupid. (AP Images)

UFC heavyweight champion Randy Couture (16-8-0) won't be fighting in the UFC again anytime soon.

In an interview with MMAweekly.com, Couture talks candidly about his legal battle with Zuffa LLC, the owners of the UFC, who say that he violated his employment contract by cornering fighters at other shows, such as Hardcore Fighting Championships, where he cornered Xtreme Couture fighter Mike Pyle (15-5-1) on Feb 1.

"It’s unfortunate that things have kind of degraded to that point," Couture says.

The suit, filed by the UFC on Jan. 11, seeks damages in excess of $10,000 for Couture's alleged infractions, but Zuffa's real strategy might be to drag the case out in court in the hopes of bleeding Couture's cash supply dry.

With his own clothing line, a growing movie career, and Xtreme Couture gyms springing up around the country, Couture says that isn't likely."I’m sure that’s part of their ploy," he explains, "to force me to spend enough money that I’ll have to come back and fight for them, which isn’t the case."

In addition to the lawsuit, Couture says that the UFC owners have tried to come after him in other ways.

"Like trying to ban my clothing line," he says. "Things like that that don’t really hurt me, they just hurt the athletes that we sponsor. We sponsor some 35 athletes with that clothing line, and give back to the sport in every way we can. We’re already in Nordstrom’s and Macy’s and all the big outlets, so it just takes away from money that the athletes are getting from their sponsorships. It’s kind of stupid."

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