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FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE  --  September 2, 2008

 EXCLUSIVE: PAUL HEYMAN DISCUSSES 

UFC's BUSINESS MOTIVATION BEHIND 

BROCK LESNAR VS RANDY COUTURE

SunSport Provides Insight As To Why

UFC Pres Dana White Would Be WIlling

To Risk So Much For This One Fight!

In a SunSport EXCLUSIVE today,  former Extreme Championship Wrestling owner Paul Heyman takes a look at not only the potential for his former WWE on-air client Brock Lesnar's UFC showdown against Randy Couture, but also shares some insight as to why UFC President Dana White would be willing to expose the 2-1 Lesnar to the crafty veteran of the Octagon.

A key excerpt:

 "Brock v Couture is on one hand a very smart move by UFC because clearly, it's the biggest money fight of 2008," Heyman noted. 

"On the flipside, it's a very dangerous move because it could stop Brock's momentum, and he has a ton of it coming out of the Herring fight.  But the real story is going on behind the scenes. If UFC signs Couture for not just one fight, but three, then Dana White and Lorenzo Fertitta have dealt a major blow to Affliction, which goes from being the promotion that will one day deliver Couture v Fedor, to just being the place where Fedor beats up the latest heavyweight who chooses to oppose him.  A major part of Affliction's lure is lost. UFC, of course, then has all the leverage to get the Couture v Fedor fight."

But Heyman warned UFC matchmaker Joe Silva a loss for either man could be catastrophic for their career.

Heyman added: "What happens if Couture gets beaten by Lesnar? Brock's whole gameplan against Heath Herring was simply not to screw up.  Lesnar is not proficient at submissions, so he's not going to finish off Couture. His best strategy will be to dominate him, but every moment Lesnar is holding him down, Couture will be looking for any small mistake, a moment where he can capitalise on an opening from Lesnar.  I think it's very dangerous matchmaking, because the downside for both fighters is enormous. But it's also very savvy as well, because with Affliction wounded, UFC can absorb the blow of Lesnar or Couture's marketability taking a hit with a loss to the other."  

You can read the entire story here:

http://www.thesun.co.uk/sol/homepage/sport/ufc/article1637521.ece