Zuffa vs. HDNet: Motion to Dismiss Is Dismissed

Those aren't the exact legal terms of the victory, but HDNet claimed victory in court nevertheless. To wit:

Backed by Mark Cuban's HDNet Fights promotion, estranged UFC heavyweight champion Randy Couture (Pictures) nabbed a substantial victory Monday in his ongoing legal dispute against Zuffa.

The District Court of Dallas County, Texas, denied Zuffa's three motions to stay, delay and/or dismiss HDNet's challenge of Couture's promotional contract, on which Zuffa says the fighter still owes two bouts.

The decision opens doors for the court to hear HDNet's motion for a summary judgment on June 2, a date that could conceivably offer resolution on Couture's standing as a free agent. Couture contends his promotional contract will expire in July, once the agreement reaches its 16-month conclusion.

What's interesting about all of this is that Couture and HDNet could win it all, thereby giving Couture the legal and promotional green light to host a Couture vs. Fedor fight. Then Fedor could conceivably lose his bout with Tim Sylvia in July, making the top dog at heavyweight (besides Couture himself) Nogueira. And where will he be? The UFC. Couture needs luck in more places than the courtroom.

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