[bigboydan]

That starting price is only A cool $29,999.

The UFC heavyweight championship belt awarded to Ricco Rodriguez after his UFC 39 victory over Randy Couture is up for auction.

That starting price? A cool $29,999.

The auction is being hosted by eBay and ends on Monday, Jan. 7 at 11 p.m. ET.

According to the item's seller (who appears to be a business partner of Rodriguez's), the 30-year-old former champ is selling the belt to raise money for a new MMA school he hopes to open in the South.

Rodriguez (26-7 MMA, 5-2 UFC), who's competed professionally since 1999, made his UFC debut at UFC 32 in June 2001. After posting four consecutive knockout victories, he was slated to face Couture for the UFC's vacant heavyweight belt at UFC 39 (the title was vacated when former champ Josh Barnett tested positive for anabolic steroids). Rodriguez forced Couture to verbally submit at the 3:04 mark of the fifth round.

[goldengoat]

he's selling it so he can buy more food