Many popular current and former fighters, including a UFC Hall of Famer, will testify in the court on behalf of the Ultimate Fighting Championship in a class-action antitrust case, per a brief filed Thursday in the U.S. District Court for the District of Nevada. UFC stars like Michael Chandler, UFC Hall of Famer Michael Bisping, and Chael Sonnen are some of the expected witnesses for the defendants in UFC parent company Zuffa’s trial.
Among other expected witnesses are women star Miesha Tate and retired fan favorite Donald “Cowboy” Cerrone.
The trial is expected to begin on April 15 in Las Vegas, though the Zuffa counsel is trying their best to push back the date due to a scheduling conflict with the trial date. Several well-established MMA fighters are also expected to be a part of the trial and be a witnesses on behalf of Zuffa.
The problem began when the plaintiffs started claiming that the UFC engaged in a scheme “to acquire and maintain monopsony power in the market for elite professional MMA fighter services” by eliminating competition and suppressing wages. The plaintiffs are demanding damages to be compensated and for that, they need an amount anywhere between $894 million and $1.6 billion.
At the trial brief of the case Zuffa’s attorneys wrote that “antitrust laws are about protecting competition, not furthering the pecuniary goals of a select number of frustrated individuals” and that the case is “an attack on success.” The UFC denies having monopsony power and engaging in anticompetitive or exclusionary conduct.
Fans react to the three UFC legends coming to testify
Fans poured in with all kinds of reactions after they got the news of the names coming to witness on behalf of Zuffa.
“3 dudes who sure talk a lot and never say anything meaningful,” one fan wrote on X(previously Twitter)
“Bisping made $275k to lose an eye fighting a guy on steroids for the organization as a headliner ranked in the top 3, yet still a company man” Another wrote.
“This how Chandler makes sure he gets Conner to fight huh” another added
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