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Dana White Finds Major Relief Amid $1.6B Antitrust Lawsuit as Mark Hunt Gets Slammed by Court 7 Years After Controversy in Brock Lesnar Loss at UFC 200

Published 09/27/2023, 9:05 AM EDT

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UFC fighters finding themselves in a whirlwind of controversies is not something new. Plenty of fighters have found themselves in unpleasant situations (legally as well) in the history of UFC. Some have been able to overturn decisions, while some fighters have had to face the music. However, one case that comes to mind when it comes to one of UFC’s biggest controversies is the UFC 200 co-main event – a fight between Mark Hunt and Brock Lesnar.

It seems that the UFC and its CEO Dana White were entangled in a long-drawn legal battle. However, they were not alone. WWE superstar Brock Lesnar, who was competing in the UFC at that time, was also dragged into the mix. The lawsuit was filed by Hunt and after many long years; the case has finally ended, and not how Hunt would have hoped it would.

Case Closed! Mark Hunt’s lawsuit against UFC, Dana White, and Brock Lesnar meets an unfortunate end

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Back in 2018, UFC Heavyweight giants Mark Hunt and Brock Lesnar faced off at UFC 200. The fight was a memorable one where Lesnar out-wrestled Hunt and secured a win by unanimous decision. However, the decision was then overturned, when Lesnar tested positive for multiple banned substances. The U.S. Anti-Doping Agency and the Nevada Athletic Commission then suspended Lesnar. The decision was then overturned.

A Twitter user shared a picture from the Mark Hunt vs. Brock Lesnar fight with a caption that read: “BREAKING: Mark Hunt loses lawsuit filed against the UFC, Dana White, and Brock Lesnar after Court grants defendants’ motion for summary judgment on all claims. Hunt claimed that White and the UFC knew Lesnar was using PEDs but encouraged Lesnar to fight Hunt in UFC 200 anyway.“.

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In 2017, Mark Hunt sued the UFC, its CEO Dana White, and Brock Lesnar. 6 years later, the case was finally closed and the decision was ruled in favor of the UFC, Dana White, and Brock Lesnar. When Mark Hunt filed the case against the three parties, the alleged charges were racketeering, fraud, and breach of contract, among others. However, Judge Dorsey dismissed all of Hunt’s claims and overturned the ruling.

According to Hunt, the UFC and its CEO Dana White, were well-informed about the fact that Brock Lesnar was using Performance-Enhancing Drugs (PEDs) and was on steroids before and during the fight. However, Hunt couldn’t prove it in court, and after several years, he lost the case.

Dana White and UFC’s troubles are far from over – $1.6 billion anti-trust lawsuit looms large

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Although the UFC has moved past the trouble they ran into with Mark Hunt, their legal episode is far from over. According to the lawsuit filed against the company, UFC is acting like an ‘illegal monopoly’ that is crushing competitive MMA promoters by forcing them to drive down wages and closing shop. The plaintiffs have argued that the UFC is buying out big promotions in an attempt to sustain the monopoly.

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What’s even more worrying is the sum that the UFC will have to pay in case they lose the lawsuit. According to sources, the UFC is expected to pay anywhere between $800M and $1.6B to the plaintiffs, in the way of compensation.

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The year has been a good year for the promotion, but how will the UFC CEO steer clear of this? How will he navigate these tricky waters for the company?

Watch This Story – Will Brock Lesnar return to UFC 300?

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Written by:

Arghyadeep Ghosh

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Arghyadeep is a UFC writer at EssentiallySports. His love for combat sports dates back to the WWF. Being a 90’s kid, he grew up fascinated by showmanship, competitive fighting, and wrestling.
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Edited by:

Abhishek Das