Let it go! ufc dosen’t have fedor mark cuban got him for 5 fights for 12 million.yes cube was the mystery buyer.I’m just like everyone else i would had love to see this fight but o well!its not going to happen like dana said “randy is mine” so he won’t be going anywhere but the bank to cash them hollywood checks.oh 1st

Yeah. Who cares anymore. To hell with Fedor and Randy both. If someone wants to buy a PPV to watch Fedor fight Joe Blow then so be it. After the reality check that Pride fighters have been given in the octagon lately, I dont see why everyone is still drinking the Fedor kool-aid anyway.

People can slam me for this all they want, but I agree with Dana White. A contract is a contract. If you don’t like your contract, ask for a renegotiation, and like Dana said, he never says no to Randy. I’ve said this before, in the end the only people who got screwed in this whole thing are the fans, and I can’t really blame Dana White for that.

Just more double talk from Dana. Isn’t the UFC profitable enough to invest in a spokesperson or something, if not the Fertitas might be well advised to shorten up the leash…a lot.

I agree with Dana with everything except for one part. When he said “the whole thing is being entirely blown out of proportion”. I mean come on, you don’t have one of your top fighters, a guy that all the fans love, so no i dont think that this whole thing has been blown out of proportion.

Even if Randy goes to court on this, the process would be long enough as to hurt Randy assuming he won which seems unlikely on the surface.

I have no love for Dana but I got annoyed when athletes like Terrel Owens wanted to renegotiate his contract. I can’t be a hypocrite because I like Randy. I like him enough to believe someone is talking in his ear about how much he should be getting.

Randy got a shot at a title after a loss. It was good for the UFC and Randy. Randy will be remembered for that fight more than any other if he is done. Before that he was just a great fighter who couldn’t get past Liddel.

very clear explanation

I have to go with Dana on this one. That’s the definition of a contract.

Fedor Needs to stop being a bitch and fight him, wah wah wah money money money lets go!

Looks like Dana got some PR help, it’s kind of refreshing. Actually, not hearing him swear so much. I know it’s due to actually being on ESPN, but c’mon if you want mainstream to accept the UFC.. you have to conduct yourself in that manner consistently. He’s always avoiding the money aka compensation question.

Look, if Cuban really wanted to put on Fedor v Couture, he could. The UFC can take Randy to court, but all they can sue for is the amount of profit they would have made by putting on that same fight. Hell, Cuban could pay them that amount and break even, or still make some profit on the show, and it would be a great way to introduce mma fans to his now production.

Dana handled that interview well… the questions should have been asked; are the premier fighters in the UFC justified in negotiating for much bigger contracts in light of Fedor being offered 2 million a fight?… Is Randy and other fighters that have that type of PPV draw deserving of bigger contracts?
Something along those lines.

As I was saying a few days ago, the tide is turning in favour of Dana. How can Randy say with a straight face that he is not being respected when he was given a title shot straight out of retirement after losing two straight to Liddell at LHW? Furthermore, you don’t have to be a rocket scientist to realize that all of Randy’s other endeavours are directly related to his UFC association. IMO, Randy has made a mistake and I think that he will have a change of heart. Also, I don’t think that it was classy to call one of the Fertitta brothers a liar. I hate to say it, but Dana appears to be the grown-up here. Dana should behave like he did in this instance all the time. Unfortunately, Randy has gotten a bit “full of himself”.

Man, if Randy doesn’t want to fight, Randy isn’t going to fight and thats that. You can’t force a man into the ring to fight, I don’t care what your contract says! Someone wants to retire, tough for you. Randy’s getting up there with age and you cant expect him to step in the ring if he doesnt want to anymore. Whats done is done and everyone just drop it. Unless the Ufc can steal Fedor, the champ is gone! Randy aint owe us shit!! If anything we owe Randy, were so lucky to have even watched the man fight. Randy owes us? For what? If not for fighters like Randy the sport wouldn’t be at where its at now. We owe Randy!!!

Fedor is not a draw in North America. He is not marketable. The UFC (or anyone else) would have to be crazy to pay him even a million dollars a fight.

I thought in that interview that Dana said that randy only has 1 fight left on his contract, so why not just fight one last time against a Nogeuira or a Vera and then you done win, lose of draw.

Drama central in the mma world,wow.I am curious to see how this unfolds.This Couture/Fedor deal really caused an uproar.I want to see the fight now more than ever!!!!

Randy can retire, but he can’t not fulfill the terms of his contract, and expect to fight anywhere else. A contract is a contract. His contract that he signed. Dana is a douche at times, but he is absolutely correct with this point.
The bottom line is this comes down to Fedor. Why would the supposed #1 heavyweight and #1 pound for pound fighter, not want to test his metal against the best. Fedor can go fight cans in M1, but he lost all respect for not fighting the best, and doing right by the fans.

Look, if Cuban really wanted to put on Fedor v Couture, he could. The UFC can take Randy to court, but all they can sue for is the amount of profit they would have made by putting on that same fight. Hell, Cuban could pay them that amount and break even, or still make some profit on the show, and it would be a great way to introduce mma fans to his now production.

You have a very good point.

[quote post=“3644”]he was given a title shot straight out of retirement after losing two straight to Liddell at LHW?
 It was not straight loses! He beat Mike Van Arsdale on ufc 54.

I thought in that interview that Dana said that randy only has 1 fight left on his contract, so why not just fight one last time against a Nogeuira or a Vera and then you done win, lose of draw.

As much as I like Randy ,if he fought Vera he would lose. Randy can and has beaten much better strikers as long as they don’t have wrestling almost as good as his and Vera does.

Something I’m just not clear on after watching this video – does Randy have a contract with the UFC or not?

I hate Mark Cuban. Mavericks suck. He should go join forces with Vince McMahan. This whole situation makes Fedor look like a greedy SOB. Randy would have tore him a new one

Man, if Randy doesn’t want to fight, Randy isn’t going to fight and thats that. You can’t force a man into the ring to fight, I don’t care what your contract says! Someone wants to retire, tough for you. Randy’s getting up there with age and you cant expect him to step in the ring if he doesnt want to anymore. Whats done is done and everyone just drop it. Unless the Ufc can steal Fedor, the champ is gone! Randy aint owe us shit!! If anything we owe Randy, were so lucky to have even watched the man fight. Randy owes us? For what? If not for fighters like Randy the sport wouldn’t be at where its at now. We owe Randy!!!

It’s about him fighting somewhere else, NOT Randy saying I want to retire. Stay with us here buddy.

i think dana white is right on everything he says and i’ll be glad if we never see randy fight fedor in another organization, if it happens i think it should happen in the ufc and i don’t blame dana white for saying thats how it has to happen…

Just more double talk from Dana. Isn’t the UFC profitable enough to invest in a spokesperson or something, if not the Fertitas might be well advised to shorten up the leash…a lot.

They do have a spokesperson…Dana White. Would you rather have someone say things that dana told him to say, or have it come from the big man himself.

I agree with Dana, cant hate him for not signing Fedor. Why? Because Fedor and his managers want the best for Fedor, it may be a lot, but all managers want the best for there fighters.

This stuff happens all the time…It is just not “blown out of proportion.” Look at all of the fighters that have left this organization to either be with a lower organization, or to fight at another level. It is not because Dana wanted them gone, it is because the fighters managers thought that it would be a good idea, and the best interest for the fighter.

I can just imagine Fedor losing in M-1, and everyone saying that he was all hype. Well, doesn’t the UFC have the best fighters in the world? So Fedor just lost to a no body? So the person that beats Fedor has got to be the best right? (all hypothetical)

FEDOR IS THE BEST FIGHTER IN THE WORLD !!!!!!
He SHOULD BE MAKING MORE MONEY THAN LIDDELL

FEDOR IS THE BEST FIGHTER IN THE WORLD !!!!!!
He SHOULD BE MAKING MORE MONEY THAN LIDDELL

?

I’m looking forward to UFC 77, and weary of speculating on R. Couture and the UFC, but here goes.

Randy being offered a title shot straight out of retirement, looked like a shot in the arm to revive a lackluster heavyweight division. It was a great move on Dana’s part, not a favor to poor old Randy Couture. The money the UFC made on the Couture vs Silvia is just a small slice of the profits to pay for R.C’s 4 fight contract. In addition, Randy’s name is always marketable even if he lost.

We certainly don’t know all the particulars of this contract except it’s a guaranteed 4 fight deal. I’m making a pure guess that Randy has no intention of fighting elsewhere. I think in light of Fedor’s multi-million$$$ dollar offer, at Randy’s age, and with his belt, this may be the last time he can go for broke and get a new contract, he always said he would take it fight by fight and stay with the UFC… maybe most fans didn’t catch that… I certainly took it exactly as what happened.
In the words of Dana White UFC 77 Countdown… “Fighters only have a small window of opportunity and they have to take advantage of that”…. Oh’ I guess he doesnt mean contract wise..lol.

Finaly Dana put it in those terms for everyone. I am very happy to see that this opened a lot of peoples eyes to the truth of this despute. I was getting relly pissed at herds of sheep siding with Randy cause he is popular right now. He is a supers stud in the ring can’t take that away, but these T.O. like actions are killing his reputation.

Oh and I don’t care what anyone sais…Fedor smashes Randy all over the place……how quickly everyone foregets things…….would anyone pick Randy over Fedor after his 2 loses to Liddel…answer NO
And beating slow ass Sylvia and (we now know) overated Gonzaga does not make him a fav over a 26-1 fighter.
*26-1* in MMA !!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!
Even Barnett came out and said he will gladly coome in to UFC and crush Randy like he did before. Randy sould be happy Fedor fight might not happen, otherwise everyones last memory of Randy would be Fedor wipping every corner of the Cage with him. Name another fighter with a simmilar record like Fedor?…mmm maybe E. Faber thats about it. It’s like picking Pulver as a fav against Faber…I mean he could win but sure wouldn’t put my money on it.

Its funny how dana says if we end up making a deal with Fedor then he can fight randy in the UFC. After he pretty much ripped fedor as a fighter saying hes so over rated and that randy would smash him. Dana you seem smart enough to know you dont burn bridges, think about what your going to say before you say it.

The UFC can still fix this mess by giving Randy what he will be happy with and doing whatever it takes to get fedor to sign a one fight deal with Couture.

Good words by Dana and a decent P.R offence on the whole issue. I think let Randy do this film let the air settle and see what happens.

People can slam me for this all they want, but I agree with Dana White. A contract is a contract. If you don’t like your contract, ask for a renegotiation, and like Dana said, he never says no to Randy. I’ve said this before, in the end the only people who got screwed in this whole thing are the fans, and I can’t really blame Dana White for that.

i agree 100% with you

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he should be making more than hatton and mayweather !!

Yeah, a contract is a contract. I’m sure he could have “renegotiated” successfully after his win over Gonzaga. What was he getting- $250K? He probably could have gotten twice that on his last two fights.

I admire Couture as maybe the greatest fighter ever but White is in the right on this.

Its funny how dana says if we end up making a deal with Fedor then he can fight randy in the UFC. After he pretty much ripped fedor as a fighter saying hes so over rated and that randy would smash him. Dana you seem smart enough to know you dont burn bridges, think about what your going to say before you say it.

The UFC can still fix this mess by giving Randy what he will be happy with and doing whatever it takes to get fedor to sign a one fight deal with Couture.

Thing is if Fedor has signed a 5 fight exclusive deal then by the time he completes that- Couture is what 46, 47 years old? Time is not on Randy’s side.

Man, if Randy doesn’t want to fight, Randy isn’t going to fight and thats that. You can’t force a man into the ring to fight, I don’t care what your contract says! Someone wants to retire, tough for you. Randy’s getting up there with age and you cant expect him to step in the ring if he doesnt want to anymore. Whats done is done and everyone just drop it. Unless the Ufc can steal Fedor, the champ is gone! Randy aint owe us shit!! If anything we owe Randy, were so lucky to have even watched the man fight. Randy owes us? For what? If not for fighters like Randy the sport wouldn’t be at where its at now. We owe Randy!!!

Randy does not owe any of us fans a thing, and I do not thnk any fans feel that way. But he does owe the UFC 2 fights. That being said, He may have t step in the ring take 1 punch and go down 2 times to fulill his end of the contract. Breech of contract would end up costing Randy lots of money should he choose not to fnish out those 2 last fights. UFC could an would essentally go after it. That mone that Rany will owe wil be loss of PPV subscriptions, loss of tickets sales, lawyer and court costs, wages for anyone forced to show up in court that day, and when all is said and done he will pay fines and penalties for the actual Breach of Contract. Do not get me wrong I am a fan of Randy and I am sure he had good reason for this but he will lose the minute it goes to court. Dan and the UFC win via TKO, Judge Stoppage, in the first round.

he was given a title shot straight out of retirement after losing two straight to Liddell at LHW?
It was not straight loses! He beat Mike Van Arsdale on ufc 54.

Yeah but who the hell is Mike Van Arsdale? Van Arsdale was a walk, that’s the only non title fight Randy’s been in since I can’t remember when. He got beat by Liddell twice @LHW, had been out for year and gets 1 walk and 1 title shot? That is respect my friend.

I entirely agree with Dana white. I believe Randy-one of the fighters I respect and like the most is not doing the right thing. He was given the chance to fight for a title something I think he did not deserve coming off a knock out that put him out of the game.Don’t get wrong I love Randy ,but at the same time I love the UFC and what he is doing is not fair to sport.He fought Tim and won title ,then Gonzaga broke his nose and could not even breathe and lost to him, otherwise who knows what would have happened.Fighting Fedor is not the reason why he is leaving the UFC, money is. It is something he and the UFC will have to talk and see if they can get to an agreement.

FEDOR IS THE BEST FIGHTER IN THE WORLD !!!!!!
He SHOULD BE MAKING MORE MONEY THAN LIDDELL

That’s great but 2 million a fight is crazy! “Should be making more than Liddell” is one thing but he’s not worth 100 times Liddell or Randy per fight. All of these fighters are 1 punch away from lala land. I can’t blame Randy for hearing those numbers and getting pissed, but I can’t blame Dana for not paying it out either. Cuban has deep pockets; I hope he can buy Fedor decent competition to make it all worth it being all of the UFC has acquired most of them.

, if Randy doesn’t want to fight, Randy isn’t going to fight and thats that. You can’t force a man into the ring to fight, I don’t care what your contract says! Someone wants to retire, tough for you. Randy’s getting up there with age and you cant expect him to step in the ring if he doesnt want to anymore. Whats done is done and everyone just drop it. Unless the Ufc can steal Fedor, the champ is gone! Randy aint owe us shit!! If anything we owe Randy, were so lucky to have even watched the man fight. Randy owes us? For what? If not for fighters like Randy the sport wouldn’t be at where its at now. We owe Randy!!! [/quote]

Randy isn’t required to fight for UFC if he doesn’t want to but if he doesn’t want to fight for UFC he can’t fight period. He can’t just opt out of a contract because he feels like it. If Michael Jordan in his prime decided he wants to resign from the Bulls with 2 years left on his contract so he could go play for his hometown Hornets do you really think the Bulls would’ve just let him do so?

i think dana white is right on everything he says and i’ll be glad if we never see randy fight fedor in another organization, if it happens i think it should happen in the ufc and i don’t blame dana white for saying thats how it has to happen…

Dana says that the heavyweight division is a strong division with or w/o Randy. Really, other than Vera who else is there that is not coming off a significant loss.

I hate dana, but he doesn’t seem wrong. A contract is a contract. I live in Philadelphia and I am a die hard Eagles fan, and this situation sounds like When Terrel Owens was trying to get a new deal done with the Eagles. I am usually on Randy’s side, but come on man, you signed a contract 8 months ago. WTF… honor your freaking contract.

The way Dana talks sounds like Randy and Fedor could still both end up in the UFC

he should be making more than hatton and mayweather !!

No one should be making as much money as hatton or mayweather to fight. People think that if fighters make tons more money then that will inspire them to do even better. Wrong. I think it is a weird give and take where when they have a lower salary, they are fighting hard to make a living. Once you give fighters a huge salary, then they are usually only fighting to not lose. (example: boxing) That spells boring fights. There is a difference between fighting to make it and fighting just to add a couple more million to your bank account. I am not saying however that fighters shouldn’t be paid decently. Some of the undercard salaries are a joke. $5,000 or $10,000 to win a fight?

This is true, very true what a lot of you guys are saying. If only 8 month ago Randy was happy with his contract what happened that made him pissy. Was it that hollywood agent we are hearing about. One may never know. But, hey once you put your John Hancock on a piece of paper you are obligated until the end. Cuzz, unless your retarded your signature is your bond.

Yeah. Who cares anymore. To hell with Fedor and Randy both. If someone wants to buy a PPV to watch Fedor fight Joe Blow then so be it. After the reality check that Pride fighters have been given in the octagon lately, I dont see why everyone is still drinking the Fedor kool-aid anyway.

Well if you have been paying attention, two ex-pride fighters have 2 ufc belts. That makes 2-0 for pride.

Randy can retire, but he can’t not fulfill the terms of his contract, and expect to fight anywhere else. A contract is a contract. His contract that he signed. Dana is a douche at times, but he is absolutely correct with this point.
The bottom line is this comes down to Fedor. Why would the supposed #1 heavyweight and #1 pound for pound fighter, not want to test his metal against the best. Fedor can go fight cans in M1, but he lost all respect for not fighting the best, and doing right by the fans.

Why? Because he know everybody its gonna buy the PPV and the UFC its gonna make a lot lot money with him, and the only wanna give him a little part of that…thats why… His a smart business man…

Well if you have been paying attention, two ex-pride fighters have 2 ufc belts. That makes 2-0 for pride.

i agree 100% with you

I also agree w/both of you…

For 250k, what if Couture lost to Sylvia or Gonzaga and was in the same boat as Cro-Cop right now?

It’s a pretty nice contract for a guy coming of back to back losses.

I’m with White at this point, but I’d rather be on Randy’s team.

Dana right, Randy wrong.

Pretty simple.

Randy does not owe any of us fans a thing, and I do not thnk any fans feel that way. But he does owe the UFC 2 fights. That being said, He may have t step in the ring take 1 punch and go down 2 times to fulill his end of the contract. Breech of contract would end up costing Randy lots of money should he choose not to fnish out those 2 last fights. UFC could an would essentally go after it. That mone that Rany will owe wil be loss of PPV subscriptions, loss of tickets sales, lawyer and court costs, wages for anyone forced to show up in court that day, and when all is said and done he will pay fines and penalties for the actual Breach of Contract. Do not get me wrong I am a fan of Randy and I am sure he had good reason for this but he will lose the minute it goes to court. Dan and the UFC win via TKO, Judge Stoppage, in the first round.

Contract laws vary by state, but under general trends Randy would not have to pay all of those things you listed. First of all, Randy would not pay for lawyer fees unless his contract specifically required that b/c the general rule in the US is that everyone pays their own lawyer. Also, there are no “fines and penalties” for breaching a contract, other than the damages you already listed, which fall under “lost profits.”

Basically, here’s the deal: if Randy refuses to fight in 2 more fights, UFC has to show that they would have made more profit in whatever UFC events if Randy had fought in them. The only way to do that is compare whatever profit they made, with profit from the last two UFC events where Couture fought. The difference in the two is what Randy is liable for. My guess is that it wouldn’t be enough of a difference to justify the expense of suing him. Now if Randy fights in a different organization while still under contract, that’s a different story….

yeah but they arent the 2 the pride fans were clamoring about. silva only fought there briefly and rampage never had the title. so even the most diehard pride fans cant claim these 2.

Randy is the Britney Spears of MMA.

Well if Randy had NOTHING TO PROVE unless he fought FEDOR…. and he can afford to just walk away. Why didn’t he offer to his share to Fedor as part of the contract?

If he and Dana are so confident, he could have kicked Fedor’s ass at no charge.

I’m not personally impressed with the Pride Guys. Cro Cop really let me down. Now Henderson, Shogun………

Rampage is the only one doing anything and I belive Silva is going to demolish Chuck. Talk about a nice contract with consecutive losses. Rampage, Jardine and Silva……..all laying an asswhooping on Chuck.

Business is business. That’s why Fedor didn’t sign with UFC. UFC is like the Dictator of MMA. Fedor needs more flexibility and he rightfully deserves it. By the way UFC fighters didn’t do very well in Pride. Maybe its the time change, who knows?

Anyways check this out Fedor is calling out Randy!
http://www.msnbc.msn.com/id/21487493/

Well if you have been paying attention, two ex-pride fighters have 2 ufc belts. That makes 2-0 for pride.

If Randy beats Fedor he will be the MMA GOD for all time.
Randy has given MMA fans some mythic fights, where he was the underdog and then surprisingly came up controlling his opponent completely for 5 rounds. See Tito Ortiz and Tim Sylvia fights.
But Fedor is a monster. He’s younger, very fast, has terrible striking and awsome balance, ground and submission game.
I’d like Randy to kick his ass, but it will be a hell of a fight.
I think all this stuff about resigning from UFC may very well a strategy to give more audience to the upcoming Couture-Emelianenko fight. Dana white is a great business man and very good at negotiation and I’m sure Fedor will fight Randy in less than a year. This is the most expected fight in MMA history and all them are going to make incredible amounts of dollars, just with the ppv.

quote = "Well if Randy had NOTHING TO PROVE unless he fought FEDOR…. and he can afford to just walk away. Why didn’t he offer to his share to Fedor as part of the contract?

If he and Dana are so confident, he could have kicked Fedor’s ass at no charge."

They are not confident, they are scared, Fedor DID offer to fight Randy Couture in UFC for a one off fight. Dana White turned it down. White doesn’t want this fight to happen. His champion Nog has already been beaten twice by Fedor, if his “real” champion were to lose to Fedor as well, it would make the UFC look less credible as they don’t have the number 1 fighter in the world signed. At the moment he can argue that he hasn’t fought Couture and he is a pussy, but the only person stopping this fight is DANA.

They offered Fedor $150k per fight, that means he could fight some fighters in the UFC win and still get paid less than his opponent. This also comes with the he is not allowed to compete in Sambo competitions. he just got 2 mill for 36 seconds and he is free to compete in sambo competitions. Who can blame Fedor for not going to UFC.