Tension brewing between Couture and Affliction?

MMAWeekly has an interesting article about a potential rift growing in between Randy Couture and Affliction.

Recently, Affliction co-founder Todd Beard, while appearing on the Scott Ferrall Show, made a bold statement about Couture regarding his match-up against Brock Lesnar in the UFC.

“Randy, if you’re listening right now, I hope (expletive) Lesnar kills you,” Beard stated.

Strong words for someone who has a full clothing line with you and supposedly has an equity stake in your company. The full article can be found here.

I have to admit, the first I heard of Todd Beard was when news broke that the UFC had been in negotiations with Affliction in an effort to have them cease promoting shows and potentially buying out some of Affliction's fight contracts.

Information on the company is sparse and I can't find much info on Beard other than he is a co-founder of the company. Calling out one of the first MMA stars to establish a clothing line with your company doesn't seem like a very good way to maintain good business relations.

Now with Beard coming out with very damaging statements towards Couture, could the future with Affliction be on rocky ground?

“It’s certainly going to be affected. The relationship’s already been affected by Todd Beard’s demeanor and some of the things he’s said, so that’s all up in the air,” Couture said in closing.

So Couture's relationship with Affliction was already strained and with Beard now making public statements about him, it certainly isn't helping things.

This certainly can't be a positive for Affliction, as in the past, conflicting or brash statements by high ranking company officials has done nothing but cause confusion and backlash among media and fans. So far, Tom Atencio has been the front man from the promotion. Now, out of left field, you have Beard coming on radio shows and going to the media making inflammatory statements.

It seems reasonable to assume that this is because of Randy's reconciliation with the UFC. From the very beginning, it seemed that Affliction's interest in getting into the promotion business was by being able to promote a Couture vs. Fedor fight somewhere down the road and gaining traction as a flegeling promotion through it.

Now that the fight's off the table, it appears as if Beard either is bitter about it and is venting or doesn't place much value on Randy's business relationship any longer. Especially now that Couture will be back in the Octagon without an Affliction shirt on his back.