MMAterial Facts 08/10/10: Legal Battles Heating Up

– Akiyama Charges Manager with Embezzlement

– MMA promoter sues over canceled match

– XCAP Proud to have Ryan Couture on Board

– President: Announcement of Shark Fights 13 broadcast plans coming next week

– Bellator sues UFC, alleges “tortious interference of contract” of Jonathan Brookins

Akiyama Charges Manager with Embezzlement

Proving once again that the sharks in MMA swim mostly outside of the ring, Bloodyelbow.com and GotMMA.com have unearthed that Yoshihiro Akiyama once accused his (obviously former) manager of embezzlement. Writing in his autobiography, “Two Souls,” Akiyama claims the unnamed party stole anywhere from hundreds of thousands to a million, representing nearly all of his career earnings. That’s bleak stuff.  (Sherdog)

MMA promoter sues over canceled match

Maximum Fighting Inc. has filed a $500,000 lawsuit against the Edmonton Concert Hall Foundation (ECHF) after alleging it suffered losses when the ECHF unilaterally cancelled an agreement for three Maximum Fighting Championship (MFC) events to be held at the Winspear.

According to a statement of claim filed July 28, MFC and ECHF entered into a written agreement on Dec. 15, 2009, whereby MFC would be entitled to hold an MFC event at the Winspear on April 9. (Edmonton Sun)

XCAP Proud to have Ryan Couture on Board

Strikeforce officials announced last week that Las Vegas resident Ryan Couture, son of MMA legend Randy Couture, has agreed and signed a multi-fight deal all in which XCAP (Xtreme Couture Athletic Pharmaceutials) is proud to have Ryan  Couture represent the line and wear its colors. (XCAPNEWS)

President: Announcement of Shark Fights 13 broadcast plans coming next week

“One of the great things is that I’ve got great, great investors who are committed,” said Medley, a former pro fighter who owns a 1999 victory over WEC contender Leonard Garcia. “They’re big fight fans themselves. … So I went to them, and we got separate money for this show. I said I want it (the event costs, including fighters salaries) paid for before the event.

“I’m a fight fan then a promoter. … Are we trying to play with the big boys? Is this event going to leverage our company? The answer is no. The event is separate from our day-to-day profile.” (MMAJunkie)

Bellator sues UFC, alleges “tortious interference of contract” of Jonathan Brookins

The legal battle between the Bellator Fighting Championships and the Ultimate Fighting Championship has taken an unexpected turn.

While Zuffa, LLC – the parent company of the UFC – recently filed suit in Nevada against Bellator due to an alleged theft of “trade secrets and confidential Zuffa documents,” Bellator officials have now fired back with a suit of their own.  (MMAJunkie)

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Targeted by Bellator lawsuit, Mickey Dubberly says company’s claims inaccurate

Mickey Dubberly, the CEO of K.O. Dynasty Sports Management has a simple message for Bellator head Bjorn Rebney: Stop lying.

Dubberly and his client, Jonathan Brookins, are among the defendants targeted alongside Zuffa, LLC in a lawsuit filed today by Bellator that claim tortious interference was at play in Brookins’ recent run on “The Ultimate Fighter 12.”  (MMAJunkie)

PICTURE OF THE DAY

QUOTE OF THE DAY

Eye Injury Puts Alan Belcher in Career Jeopardy : “I had a detached retina, I just lost the vision in my right eye. It just happened all of the sudden, pretty much overnight. I was training in Brazil, messing around there for a few days and had surgery the day after I came home. I think it happened in training but I don’t exactly know when. It’s gonna take a couple of months to heal, to be at its peak, so then I’ll know how much my vision comes back.” (MMAFA.TV)

QUICK HITS

• Rafael “Feijao” Cavalcante well-prepared by life lessons for Strikeforce title shot(MMAJunkie)
• Nick Catone to undergo surgery on re-injured shoulder and back, return date unknown (MMAJunkie)
• UFC 118 weigh-ins to air live on Spike TV (MMAJunkie)
• Paul Daley meets Jorge Masvidal at Shark Fights 13 (MMAJunkie)
• Strikeforce CEO: Fabricio Werdum out until 2011, no opponent set (MMAJunkie)
• Silva: Submission Was Payback, Injury Layoff Undetermined (Sherdog)
• Commission: Daley Suspended 30 Days for Koscheck Punch (Sherdog)
• King Mo Declares Himself Underdog for Title Fight (MMAFighting)
• Leonardo Santos vs. Sotaro Yamada Announced for SRC 14 (MMAFighting)
• TRENDING INDICATED BIG PPV NUMBERS FOR UFC 117 (MMAWeekly)
• STRIKEFORCE WILL HOLD 185 CONTENDERS TOURNEY (MMAWeekly)
• Bellator Fires Back, Sues UFC Regarding Jonathan Brookins (Heavy)
• UFC 117: Risks Don’t Outweigh Rewards (Heavy)

TV LISTINGS

• Bellator 24: Lombard vs Goodman on FSN (08/12/10)
• HDNet Fights Vault: DREAM at 8:00 PM ET on HDNet (08/13/10)
• Fighting Words with Mike Straka (Chael Sonnen) at 8:30 PM ET on HDNet (08/13/10)
• Inside MMA (Ben Henderson, Reed Harris, & Chad Mendes) at 9 PM ET on HDNet (08/13/10)
• HDNet Fights: KOTC: Imminent Danger at 10 PM ET on HDNet (08/13/10)
• Strikeforce Challengers: Riggs vs Taylor 11 PM ET on Showtime (08/13/10)

UPCOMING EVENTS

• Bellator 24: Lombard vs Goodman on FSN (08/12/10)
• Strikeforce Challengers: Riggs vs Taylor 10 PM ET/PT on Showtime (08/13/10)
• HDNet Fights: KOTC: Imminent Danger at 9 PM ET on HDNet (08/13/10)
• WEC 50: Cruz vs Benavidez at 9 PM ET on Versus (08/18/10)
• Bellator 25 on FSN (08/19/10)
• Strikeforce: King Mo vs Rafael Feijao at 10 PM ET/PT on Showtime (08/21/10)
• Bellator 26 on FSN (08/26/10)
• HDNet Fights: Sengoku Raiden Championships 14 on HDNet (08/27/10)
• UFC 118: Edgar vs Penn 2 at 10 PM ET on PPV (08/28/10)
• Bellator 26 on FSN (09/2/10)
• UFC Fight Night: Maia vs. Belcher at 9 PM ET on SPIKE TV (09/15/10)
• UFC 119 : Minotauro Nogueira vs Frank Mir 2 at 10 PM ET on PPV (09/25/10)