Dana White ordered to testify as new UFC antitrust lawsuit moves forward

The legal pressure on the UFC has reportedly mounted this week after a federal judge ordered promotional CEO Dana White to testify in a new antitrust lawsuit. The case, led by former light heavyweight contender Misha Cirkunov, focuses on contract provisions that govern arbitration and class action waivers for fighters.

Judge Richard Boulware issued the order during a Dec. 18 status conference. The stage for a spoliation hearing is scheduled for Feb. 4 and Feb. 5. White is expected to testify first, followed by Tracy Long, the UFC’s vice president of athlete compliance and regulatory affairs.

Another hearing is planned for Jan. 6 to address unresolved discovery disputes and define the scope of the spoliation proceedings, which center on the handling and preservation of relevant evidence. The lawsuit builds on years of antitrust litigation involving the UFC.

An earlier case filed in 2014 on behalf of fighters competing between 2010 and 2017 was resolved earlier this year with a $375 million settlement. A separate lawsuit covering fighters from 2017 onward remains active, though the promotion has sought to block class certification based on arbitration clauses in fighter contracts.

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According to a report by MMA Fighting, the new lawsuit reads:

"Although Plaintiff disagrees with Defendants’ position, in order to (a) avoid unnecessary delay in Johnson, (b) ensure that the invalidity and unenforceability of UFC Fighters’ arbitration agreements and class action waivers may be adjudicated, Misha Cirkunov brings this case on behalf of those UFC Fighters, like himself, who fought in a bout promoted by the UFC from July 1, 2017 until the illicit scheme alleged herein ceases, and who signed a contract with Zuffa LLC that contained a clause purporting to require disputes between the fighter and Zuffa (and/or its parent companies or affiliates) to be submitted to individual arbitration (an “Arbitration Clause”) and/or a clause purporting to waive any right to participate in a class action”.

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Eddie Hearn dismisses Dana White and Zuffa's ambitions in boxing

Eddie Hearn is not convinced that Dana White and Zuffa can reshape boxing on their own terms. The Matchroom boss has traded friendly words with White in the past, but that tone has shifted as Zuffa Boxing prepares to enter the market.

Speaking after promoting Anthony Joshua’s knockout of Jake Paul, Hearn questioned whether White’s group can deliver the kind of launch boxing demands. In a recent appearance on The Ariel Helwani Show, he said:

“They are very bullish, like me. They’re arrogant, and they think they’re going to come in and dominate boxing. But it’s not going to happen. Haven’t they got a show on January 23? That’s their first show, right? It’s a month away. So I’ve got no idea. You’ve got to come out of the blocks with a bang, you can’t come out with something lame."

He added:

“What are you going to do, do a show in the Apex to launch TKO Boxing? It’s got to be a monster, and with four weeks to go, how much of a monster can it be? As I’ve said before, these guys that we’re up against, I want to be up against them. So many people in boxing want them to fail, and I don’t think they will fail. But if they get it wrong and it stinks the place out in January? The worst thing they could do is come out with something poor.”

Check out Eddie Hearn's comments below (23:00):

Edited by Abhishek Nambiar