In a Tuesday afternoon press conference, UFC president Dana White refuted heavyweight champion Randy Couture's claims that he wasn't paid $500,000 in a promised signing bonus.

UFC Chief Financial Officer John Mulkey produced documents which he claims show proof that Couture was paid a $250,000 bonus before his March return to the UFC against Tim Sylvia, and another $250,000 after the UFC 68 title fight. According to White, Couture asked for the $500,000 bonus as a condition of his return from an 11-month retirement, and the UFC agreed on the condition that half of this bonus would be paid after Couture fought Sylvia.

The rift between Couture and the UFC occurred after a September meeting where Couture expressed displeasure with a number of issues - from being underpaid compared to other UFC fighters to how much he was paid for his appearance on the Spike TV show "Pros vs. Joes." White had attempted to sign former Pride heavyweight champion Fedor Emelianenko to a title fight against Couture, but when that deal fell through, Couture faxed a letter of resignation from the UFC.

"I don't know how we got here with Randy Couture. Maybe we didn't pay enough attention to him," said White. At the same time, White disputed widespread belief that Emelianenko - who hasn't lost a fight since 2000 - is the top heavyweight fighter in the world.

"I don't consider Fedor to be the number one fighter in the world," said White. "Fedor is a farce. Randy Couture is the number one heavyweight in the world... I was trying to get Fedor because I thought Randy could beat him."

White didn't rule out a reconciliation with Couture, who remains the UFC Heavyweight champion for the moment. "If Tito Ortiz and I can work things out, I'm sure Randy and I can.", said White.

While maintaining confusion about the true reason behind Couture's unhappiness, White didn't mince words in assigning blame for the rift.

"We think (Couture's) puke Hollywood agent has got in his ear and fed him a bunch of bulls--t."