“Rude awakening coming” – $1.6 billion worth anti-trust lawsuit against Dana White and UFC shifts focus to unraveling dark messages between MMA Managers and promotion, lawyer warns

The Class Action lawsuit against the UFC could change the stage of MMA forever.

“Rude awakening coming” – $1.6 billion worth anti-trust lawsuit against Dana White and UFC shifts focus to unraveling dark messages between MMA Managers and promotion, lawyer warns

Dana White (Image via Imagio)

U.S. District Judge Richard Boulware of Las Vegas, Nevada, who presides over the UFC antitrust lawsuit, revealed that he intends to expedite the case’s progression. It took five and a half years to determine class certification. At a status conference on Monday, he informed representatives from the UFC and the plaintiff fighters that he prioritized the matter and aimed to hold a trial in early 2024. Dana White has no qualms about the lawsuit.

If the UFC’s appeal is unsuccessful, the case will suddenly adopt an ambitious timeline. Following the UFC’s petition to appeal Boulware’s class certification order, the plaintiffs will have ten days to respond. Subsequently, the U.S. Court of Appeals for the Ninth Circuit will have 90 days to determine whether or not to accept the UFC’s petition. Lawyer Erik Magraken wrote, “Rude awakening coming for MMA managers?” MMA Managers have lost their reputation in recent years and the revelation will further expose them.

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As the conference unfolded, it became clear that both lawsuits would persist until the appeals court reached a final decision. Initially, it seemed that Boulware would suspend all case proceedings until the Ninth Circuit made a decision regarding the petition. When asked about the expected duration of a trial, both sides agreed that it would last around 4-5 weeks. This rare instance of agreement between the two sides in this long-standing dispute remains a welcomed development.

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Boulware announced that all court documents previously protected by a confidentiality order would be made public, causing audible reactions from the audience. He emphasized that this would encompass the entire situation. However, the documents release will need each party to provide their version of the court record. This will only include minimal redactions for fighters’ health data, contact information, and email addresses.

Related: Dana White-run UFC sued for over $1.6 Billion for controlling MMA fighter market with ‘improper strategies’

Francis Ngannou and Nate Diaz finding success outside UFC could affect the lawsuit for Dana White and UFC

Francis Ngannou and Nate Diaz
Francis Ngannou(L) and Nate Diaz(R), (Courtesy: Heavy)

The Cameroonian Francis Ngannou is one of the scariest fighters in the world. Ngannou’s tussle with the UFC is the stuff of legends. The Cameroonian signed with PFL and no longer adhered to the difficulties he faced in the UFC. He will fight Tyson Fury in a boxing match on October 28, 2023.

UFC has been hit with a blow, with the PFL showering him with the freedom to box. The class action lawsuit they face would face considerable backlash when the Ngannou debacle is presented. Dana White is adamant that the UFC will win the case and PFL’s Ngannou deal will bankrupt the PFL. However, the final decision by the Judge in the coming month would prove to be massive.

Ngannou will make millions of dollars after his stint with the UFC. A similar story of Nate Diaz leaving the promotion can also be discussed in lieu of the lawsuit. Diaz recently competed in a high-profile boxing match against Jake Paul. It is reported that he made around eight figures for the boxing bout.

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