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The Honolulu Advertiser
Updated at 1:45 p.m., Wednesday, November 12, 2008

UFC: Champ's wife restrains business associate

By KEN RITTER
Associated Press Writer

LAS VEGAS — The wife of Ultimate Fighting Championship heavyweight star Randy Couture obtained a court order Wednesday banning a California clothing manufacturer from approaching her or attending an upcoming UFC bout.

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Kim Couture won the order in a Las Vegas court, banning Todd Eugene Beard, an ex-convict and part owner of the Affliction Inc. clothing company in Seal Beach, Calif., from "contacting, intimidating, threatening or otherwise interfering" with her at home or in public.

Couture, 32, of Las Vegas, alleged that an Oct. 17 phone call with her and her Los Angeles lawyer, Sam Spira, disintegrated into Beard screaming "that he would 'get' us and otherwise make us regret that we had persisted" in trying to obtain accountings on a T-shirt contract she manages featuring Randy Couture's name and likeness.

Court spokeswoman Esther McElhaney said the order against "stalking, aggravated stalking or harassment" was issued by Justice of the Peace Doug Smith.

Beard's lawyer, Michael Bassiri of Newport Beach, Calif., called allegations that Beard threatened Couture "complete nonsense."

"I think they took his statements incorrectly that there was any sort of physical harm implied," Bassiri said. "He didn't threaten them. It was only regarding a business relationship."

The lawyer also denied Couture's allegations that Beard "engaged in numerous acts of violence, including violence against women."

Spira declined comment. Couture's Las Vegas lawyer, Donald Campbell, said he believes Beard "posed more than a significant risk" to Kim Couture.

Randy Couture, 45, the UFC heavyweight champion, is scheduled to fight Brock Lesnar Saturday at the MGM Grand Garden Arena in Las Vegas.

At Kim Couture's request, the judge prohibited Beard from attending the bout and a pre-fight weigh-in Friday.

According to court records, Beard was convicted in 1993 in Arizona of attempted forgery and illegal telemarketing, and was convicted in 1995 of federal mail and wire fraud charges in California and sentenced to 2› years in federal prison.

Beard, of Huntington Beach, Calif., faces sentencing Jan. 29 in Bellflower, Calif., after pleading no contest in state court to making criminal threats, a misdemeanor, court documents said.

Bassiri said the Bellflower case stemmed from a "poker table argument," and that the judge told Beard the conviction would be dismissed after Beard paid a $2,180 fine and completed an anger management course.

In an unrelated case, an event management company sued Randy Couture this week, claiming it wasn't fully paid for producing a fundraiser for military families last May 27 at Couture's gym in Las Vegas.

Terry Coffing, lawyer for Florida-based Toast of New York LLC, said Couture owes his client $125,000 of a $175,000 contract.

The civil lawsuit was filed Monday in Clark County District Court.

Randy Couture could not be immediately reached for comment.