Ninth Circuit Court of Appeals discards Mark Hunt's lawsuit against UFC and Dana White in the US.
The End of the Line for Mark Hunt's Lawsuit
Mark Hunt's legal battle against the UFC, UFC President Dana White, and Brock Lesnar is finally over. The Ninth Circuit Court of Appeals recently backed the initial ruling by District Judge Jennifer Dorsey, which stated that Hunt failed to provide evidence suggestion the league and White intentionally matched him against Lesnar, aware of Lesnar's use of performance-enhancing drugs.
As a quick refresher, Hunt filed a lawsuit in Nevada District Court back in 2017. He accused the league and Lesnar of intentionally violating fair competition rules for their own benefit and also mentioned racketeering and fraud. The case was dismissed in 2019, but it was reopened in 2021. However, Judge Dorsey concluded that Hunt did not provide enough evidence for the remaining charges - fraud, battery, aiding and abetting, and civil conspiracy.
Interestingly, Lesnar defeated Hunt by unanimous decision at UFC 200 in July 2016. Following the fight, it was revealed that Lesnar had failed two drug tests, one during preparation and one on the day of the fight. The outcome of the bout was later overturned, with Lesnar receiving a one-year suspension and a fine of $250,000. Hunt expressed disappointment that his opponent pocketed most of the purse and was exempt from a four-month mandatory USADA testing period upon his return from retirement.
In simpler words, Hunt did not present convincing evidence of any harm caused by the defendants, as noted by the court. So, it looks like Hunt's lawsuit is officially behind him.
Here are some other interesting tidbits from the UFC world:
- Max Holloway and 'Korean Zombie' engaged in a striking contest.
- Commentator Laura Sanko, after 19 years of training, earned a black belt in jiu-jitsu.
- Bruce Buffer extended his support to Logan Paul's transition to UFC, stating he could compete.
Sources:[1] [2] [3] [4] [5]
The bookmakers had a tough time predicting the outcome of Mark Hunt's lawsuit against UFC, Dana White, and Brock Lesnar, given the complex nature of the case. However, the lawsuit, which involved allegations of intentional violation of fair competition rules and use of performance-enhancing drugs, has been nullified by the Ninth Circuit Court of Appeals, officially ending Hunt's legal battle. Despite Lesnar's physical advantage in their sports encounter at UFC 200, Hunt expressed disappointment about the financial implications of Lesnar's drug use, as he received most of the purse and was exempt from a mandatory drug testing period.
