UFC champ’s wife restrains associate

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.

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. Affliction Inc. produces Randy Couture's clothing line.

Kim 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 Kim Couture's allegations that Beard had "engaged in numerous acts of violence, including violence against women."

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

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

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.

In 1995 in California, he was convicted of federal mail and wire fraud charges and was sentenced to 21/2 years in federal prison, the records show.

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 that the Bellflower case stemmed from a "poker table argument" and that the judge told Beard the conviction would be dismissed after he 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 on 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.

An attorney for Randy Couture said he had not seen the complaint and would not comment until he had.

Review-Journal writer Adrienne Packer contributed to this report.