Sin City Sentinel: Burnett Sues ‘TUF’
Mike Sloan Jul 3, 2008
Mikey Burnett, one of the
original Lion's Den members, has filed suit in Clark County
District Court against TufGuy Productions, Inc. d/b/a Ultimate
Fighting Productions, Inc., the company that produces "The Ultimate
Fighter" for Spike TV, as well as American International Group,
Inc., an accident and health insurance company associated with the
TV show.
According to the lawsuit filed on June 9, Burnett claims alleged negligence against the defendants, who "carelessly, recklessly and negligently failed to provide a safe environment for the Ultimate Fighter 4 participants."
Specifically, the 34-year-old Burnett states that he suffered a
career-ending spinal injury during the show's tapings.
Burnett served as a competitor on the series' fourth season entitled "The Comeback," where UFC figures of old and not-so-old got a second chance at glory in the Octagon. Burnett's appearance on the show, which aired from August-November 2006, ended years of obscurity the Tulsa, Okla. fighter endured after personal struggles with alcohol abuse, injuries and a horrendous recluse spider bite.
The suit alleges that Burnett has suffered "serious bodily injuries, has endured and continues to endure both physical and mental pain and suffering and has incurred severe medical expenses."
Burnett has also filed grievances with AIG, which allegedly insured Burnett during his time on the series, for breach of contract and breach of the covenant of good faith and fair dealing for failing "to make a reasonable offer and payment in connection" with the policy.
Burnett also claims that AIG has failed to provide him and his attorneys with a true and correct copy of said policy and has failed to properly investigate the extent of his injuries, as well as refused to pay Burnett the value of his uncompensated damages.
Burnett is suing for an amount in excess of $10,000 for each claim, along with damages and attorneys' fees.
Repeated emails and phone calls to both parties' attorneys have yet to be returned.
XFA signs Tompkins to fight
Vegas-based Xtreme Fighting Association, a standup fighting organization in the vein of Chuck Norris' World Combat League, has recently signed Team Tompkins founder and Xtreme Couture striking coach Shawn Tompkins (Pictures) to compete on a future card. Though the XFA is not exactly an MMA organization, its promoters have been able to feature well-known fighters like Vernon "Tiger" White and Mike Whitehead (Pictures) to highlight their striking skills.
Tompkins, who participated in his last MMA bout in 2001 to devote more time to a laundry list of standout students like Sam Stout (Pictures), Chris Horodecki (Pictures), and even UFC legend Randy Couture (Pictures), is scheduled to debut for the XFA sometime in the fall. The muay Thai specialist is slated to face the always-dangerous fighter from parts unknown, TBA.
The XFA's next show in Las Vegas will be held on Aug. 8 at the Cox Pavilion.
Aug. 3 WEC card set
World Extreme Cagefighting's next roster is now finalized and ready to play out at the Hard Rock Hotel & Casino on Aug. 3. Carlos Condit (Pictures) will defend his WEC welterweight title against Hiromitsu Miura (Pictures), while the co-featured bout will host light heavyweight champion Brian Stann (Pictures) taking on Steve Cantwell (Pictures). The rest of the card features champion Jamie Varner (Pictures) versus challenger Marcus Hicks for the WEC lightweight title, Brian Bowles (Pictures) against Damacio Page (Pictures) at 135 pounds, Micah Miller (Pictures) squaring off against Josh Grispi at featherweight, welterweight Brock Larson (Pictures) locking horns with Carlo Prater (Pictures), Blas Avena (Pictures) taking on Dave Terrel (Pictures) at 170 pounds, featherweight Cub Swanson (Pictures) against Hiroyuki Takaya (Pictures), Alex Karalexis (Pictures) facing lightweight foe Todd Moore (Pictures), Greg McIntyre (Pictures) opposing Mike Budnik and Scott Jorgensen (Pictures) tangoing with Kenji Osawa (Pictures) in a bantamweight battle.
Quick hits around the valley
• The buzz around town is that Forrest Griffin (Pictures) has been looking sensational during training for his UFC light heavyweight title fight against champion Quinton "Rampage" Jackson this Saturday for UFC 86 "Jackson vs. Griffin" at the Mandalay Bay Events Center. However, when asked how he felt, the 29-year-old Griffin faux-complained that he felt, "like sh--. Like a steaming pile of dog sh--. It's terrible."
• Last Saturday's Rock & Sock Promotions event at the New Aquarius Hotel in Laughlin was deemed a success, apparently due to a last-minute infusion of MMA talent. Originally planned as a boxing event back in February, the ticket sales were said to be less then hearty. The organization decided rather than scrap the boxing card, they'd transform it into an MMA event. Local promoter and former professional boxer Skipper Kelp, who trains the likes of Marvin Eastman (Pictures) and Eric Pele (Pictures), helped with the promotion's matchmaking and the show reportedly sold out to capacity. It looks like the well-received duo of Kelp and Rock & Sock will team up for another night of MMA at the same venue, but it won't be until Oct. 18.
• Hermes Franca (Pictures) is penciled in to fight Frank Edgar (Pictures) at the quickly assembled UFC "Silva vs. Irvin" event on July 19 that will air live on Spike TV. However, the popular Brazilian lightweight has to get reinstated first through the Nevada State Athletic Commission due to his failed steroids test following his decision loss to then-champion Sean Sherk (Pictures) at UFC 73 "Stacked" back in July 2007. After satisfying the yearlong suspension enacted by the California State Athletic Commission for the infraction, Franca will be re-evaluated by the NSAC on July 9.
• Middleweight Jorge Rivera (Pictures) also faces re-evaluation by the Nevada State Athletic Commission on July 9. The commission routinely renews licenses of competitors over the age of 35. Rivera, who has lost three of his last six bouts along with an exhibition loss on the fourth season of "The Ultimate Fighter," is 38. Rivera last fought at UFC 85 "Bedlam" on June 7 in London, where Martin Kampmann (Pictures) submitted him with a guillotine choke.
• Popular MMA franchise King of the Cage is tentatively scheduled to return to Southern Nevada in October. The company has penciled in Oct. 4 at the Avi Casino in Laughlin, with a fight card to come.
According to the lawsuit filed on June 9, Burnett claims alleged negligence against the defendants, who "carelessly, recklessly and negligently failed to provide a safe environment for the Ultimate Fighter 4 participants."
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Burnett served as a competitor on the series' fourth season entitled "The Comeback," where UFC figures of old and not-so-old got a second chance at glory in the Octagon. Burnett's appearance on the show, which aired from August-November 2006, ended years of obscurity the Tulsa, Okla. fighter endured after personal struggles with alcohol abuse, injuries and a horrendous recluse spider bite.
An intriguing character from his 1998 bouts at UFC 16 and 18,
Burnett flamed out on the show when he failed to reach the finals.
During his tenure inside the ‘TUF' house, the show aired Burnett
running into a wall to stave off boredom.
The suit alleges that Burnett has suffered "serious bodily injuries, has endured and continues to endure both physical and mental pain and suffering and has incurred severe medical expenses."
Burnett has also filed grievances with AIG, which allegedly insured Burnett during his time on the series, for breach of contract and breach of the covenant of good faith and fair dealing for failing "to make a reasonable offer and payment in connection" with the policy.
Burnett also claims that AIG has failed to provide him and his attorneys with a true and correct copy of said policy and has failed to properly investigate the extent of his injuries, as well as refused to pay Burnett the value of his uncompensated damages.
Burnett is suing for an amount in excess of $10,000 for each claim, along with damages and attorneys' fees.
Repeated emails and phone calls to both parties' attorneys have yet to be returned.
XFA signs Tompkins to fight
Vegas-based Xtreme Fighting Association, a standup fighting organization in the vein of Chuck Norris' World Combat League, has recently signed Team Tompkins founder and Xtreme Couture striking coach Shawn Tompkins (Pictures) to compete on a future card. Though the XFA is not exactly an MMA organization, its promoters have been able to feature well-known fighters like Vernon "Tiger" White and Mike Whitehead (Pictures) to highlight their striking skills.
Tompkins, who participated in his last MMA bout in 2001 to devote more time to a laundry list of standout students like Sam Stout (Pictures), Chris Horodecki (Pictures), and even UFC legend Randy Couture (Pictures), is scheduled to debut for the XFA sometime in the fall. The muay Thai specialist is slated to face the always-dangerous fighter from parts unknown, TBA.
The XFA's next show in Las Vegas will be held on Aug. 8 at the Cox Pavilion.
Aug. 3 WEC card set
World Extreme Cagefighting's next roster is now finalized and ready to play out at the Hard Rock Hotel & Casino on Aug. 3. Carlos Condit (Pictures) will defend his WEC welterweight title against Hiromitsu Miura (Pictures), while the co-featured bout will host light heavyweight champion Brian Stann (Pictures) taking on Steve Cantwell (Pictures). The rest of the card features champion Jamie Varner (Pictures) versus challenger Marcus Hicks for the WEC lightweight title, Brian Bowles (Pictures) against Damacio Page (Pictures) at 135 pounds, Micah Miller (Pictures) squaring off against Josh Grispi at featherweight, welterweight Brock Larson (Pictures) locking horns with Carlo Prater (Pictures), Blas Avena (Pictures) taking on Dave Terrel (Pictures) at 170 pounds, featherweight Cub Swanson (Pictures) against Hiroyuki Takaya (Pictures), Alex Karalexis (Pictures) facing lightweight foe Todd Moore (Pictures), Greg McIntyre (Pictures) opposing Mike Budnik and Scott Jorgensen (Pictures) tangoing with Kenji Osawa (Pictures) in a bantamweight battle.
Quick hits around the valley
• The buzz around town is that Forrest Griffin (Pictures) has been looking sensational during training for his UFC light heavyweight title fight against champion Quinton "Rampage" Jackson this Saturday for UFC 86 "Jackson vs. Griffin" at the Mandalay Bay Events Center. However, when asked how he felt, the 29-year-old Griffin faux-complained that he felt, "like sh--. Like a steaming pile of dog sh--. It's terrible."
• Last Saturday's Rock & Sock Promotions event at the New Aquarius Hotel in Laughlin was deemed a success, apparently due to a last-minute infusion of MMA talent. Originally planned as a boxing event back in February, the ticket sales were said to be less then hearty. The organization decided rather than scrap the boxing card, they'd transform it into an MMA event. Local promoter and former professional boxer Skipper Kelp, who trains the likes of Marvin Eastman (Pictures) and Eric Pele (Pictures), helped with the promotion's matchmaking and the show reportedly sold out to capacity. It looks like the well-received duo of Kelp and Rock & Sock will team up for another night of MMA at the same venue, but it won't be until Oct. 18.
• Hermes Franca (Pictures) is penciled in to fight Frank Edgar (Pictures) at the quickly assembled UFC "Silva vs. Irvin" event on July 19 that will air live on Spike TV. However, the popular Brazilian lightweight has to get reinstated first through the Nevada State Athletic Commission due to his failed steroids test following his decision loss to then-champion Sean Sherk (Pictures) at UFC 73 "Stacked" back in July 2007. After satisfying the yearlong suspension enacted by the California State Athletic Commission for the infraction, Franca will be re-evaluated by the NSAC on July 9.
• Middleweight Jorge Rivera (Pictures) also faces re-evaluation by the Nevada State Athletic Commission on July 9. The commission routinely renews licenses of competitors over the age of 35. Rivera, who has lost three of his last six bouts along with an exhibition loss on the fourth season of "The Ultimate Fighter," is 38. Rivera last fought at UFC 85 "Bedlam" on June 7 in London, where Martin Kampmann (Pictures) submitted him with a guillotine choke.
• Popular MMA franchise King of the Cage is tentatively scheduled to return to Southern Nevada in October. The company has penciled in Oct. 4 at the Avi Casino in Laughlin, with a fight card to come.
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