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The landscape in mixed martial arts is one that is perpetually evolving. Just when you think things have begun to settle, a seismic shift occurs that sets the Richter scale in motion. It's a never-ending game of MMA musical chairs.
Whether it is new promotions starting up or high-profile fighters becoming available, it's becoming tougher to keep tabs on all the names without a scorecard. Diehard fans who hit the various websites and blogs on a daily basis are generally up-to-date with what's going on. However, it's not so easy for casual fans to stay abreast on what Fedor Emelianenko has or hasn't signed; the difference between M-1 Global and M-1 Mixfight; which prominent heavyweight is the latest to depart the UFC; which Randy Couture-related lawsuit is going to court next, etc.
In an effort to keep everyone in the loop and up-to-date, it might be time to lay all the cards on the table and take an extensive look at the top free agent fighters available and break down all the potential options as to where we might be seeing them fight next.
Randy Couture
Legally speaking, Couture is not a free agent. However, Mark Cuban's HDNet Fights is acting on Couture's behalf to try and determine what Couture's future status will be, as Couture's position and that of the UFC's differ greatly.
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| Is Couture a free agent? Not exactly. Not yet, anyway. (Getty Images) |
Not so fast says the UFC, as they believe Couture still owes them two more fights. While Couture believes he will be free of his obligation for those two remaining fights when the term of the contract expires in July, the UFC insists that Couture owes them those two fights and the mere expiration of the term of his contract is not enough to satisfy his obligations.
Additionally, the UFC believes the term is frozen because they believe he retired from fighting as opposed to having resigned from the company. Under basic clauses within a standard UFC contract, the term freezes when a fighter retires. Adding even more fuel to the UFC's legal fire is their position that Couture is also bound to a champion's clause that automatically extends his existing agreement. Despite leaving the company, the UFC has not stripped Couture of the title and continues to offer him fights on occasion.
Got that? Good, because the Bar exam will be administered at the end of this article.
So the reality is that Couture is not legally a free agent but there is a possibility he could become one in the coming months. If Couture and HDNet are successful then he will be free of his obligations to the UFC and eligible to sign with any promotion he so chooses. However, that promotion is most likely to be Cuban's HDNet Fights. In HDNet Fights' lawsuit seeking a declaratory judgment, it acknowledges that an agreement in principle has been reached with Couture and that the contract will take effect the moment Couture becomes a free agent. Couture has denied such a claim but perhaps he is doing that at the advice of his attorneys, out of concerns of torturous interference?
While that might be his position, if we factor in even more reality into the discussion, it's highly unlikely that HDNet Fights would agree to incur legal expenses by joining Couture's fight with the UFC if there was at least not some promise that the two sides will work together.
Couture has made up his mind and has been steadfast in his comments recently that he will not fight for the UFC again. If Couture wins his freedom, and that's a big if, expect him to be involved in a superfight against Fedor Emelianenko with HDNet Fights somehow attached to the match.
