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Randy Couture says he will fight Fedor Emelianenko, but not in the UFC. (AP Images)

According to UFC heavyweight champion Randy "The Natural" Couture (16-8-0), rumors that he might fight top-ranked Russian fighter Fedor Emelianenko (27-1-0) in the UFC are just rumors.

After winning the heavyweight title, Couture left the octagon in October 2007, but said he would return if the UFC was able to sign Emelianenko. Now, with the news that Fedor might become a free agent, the UFC has another shot at signing him. But due to an ongoing court battle with his former employers, Couture says he won't return even if they get the man he wants to fight.

So where does Couture want to fight Fedor? "I care at this point that it's not in the UFC," he tells m1mixfight.com. "But outside of that, I don't care where it happens so long as it happens.

"I prefer to fight here in the U.S. It's where I'm confortable. For all the marketing reasons, this is the strongest market for the sport probably outside of Tokyo, but wherever it happens, it happens."

For now, Couture is dealing with his legal woes, but he says the fight should happen soon. "By fall, we'll hopefully have the fight going," Couture explains.

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