13 witnesses barred from testifying in UFC antitrust trial
MMA reporter Paul Gift announced on X that 13 witnesses will not be permitted to testify in the UFC antitrust trial scheduled for April 15.
“This should be interesting,” initially wrote on the social media platform on Feb. 23. “These are the 13 #UFC witnesses plaintiffs may try to keep from testifying in April: Michael Chandler, Miesha Tate, Chanel Sonnen, Cowboy Cerrone, Michael Bisping, Jason House, Josh Jones, Dan Lambert, Ali, Ed Soares, Mick Maynard, Borsari, & Ratner.”
Earlier this week Gift provided an update stating, “This is big. These 13 witnesses for the #UFC are OUT of the upcoming trial. Judge Boulware ruled they weren’t properly disclosed.”
This is big. These 13 witnesses for the #UFC are OUT of the upcoming trial. Judge Boulware ruled they weren’t properly disclosed. https://t.co/vu2L27eFXS
— Paul Gift (@MMAanalytics) March 4, 2024
Those witness include UFC Hall of Famers Michael Bisping and Donald “Cowboy” Cerrone, UFC matchmaker Mick Maynard, former UFC women’s bantamweight champion Miesha Tate, Chael Sonnen, Michael Chandler, and managers Ali Abdelaziz, Dan Lambert, and Jason House.
Judge Richard F. Boulware granted the plaintiff’s motion to exclude the witnesses from testifying because the list of names was not disclosed ahead of time to allow for depositions to be taken long before trial began.
The plaintiffs contend Nevada-based Zuffa, which does business as the UFC, abused its market power to acquire or block rival promoters and used exclusive contracts to keep fighters within the UFC. The plaintiffs alleged the UFC suppressed fighters’ bout compensation.
The plaintiffs are seeking damages between $894 million and $1.6 billion.
