Former Bellator MMA middleweight champ Gegard Mousasi is suing his former home for breach of contract, among other allegations, to the tune of $15 million dollars USD, plus punitive damages.
Mousasi wound up on the outs with the promotion after it was acquired by rival PFL last year. He had previously threatened legal action if his contract was not honored; subsequently, the promotion released the high-profile fighter.
News of Mousasi’s lawsuit was first reported by John S. Nash. The lawsuit targets Bellator Sports Worldwide LLC and New Bellator LLC (a subsidiary of the PFL), as well as PFL Founder Donn Davis, PFL CEO Peter Murray, matchmaker Mike Kogan, President of Fighter Operations Ray Sefo, PFL Executive Vice President Of Business Affairs Jim Branson, and PFL VP, Business Affairs & Deputy General Counsel George Pineda.
Among the claims put forward by Mousasi and his lawyers is that the PFL engaged in an “anti-competitive scheme to maintain and enhance their monsopony power.” A monsopony exists when a given market has only one buyer; the term has become well-known to MMA fans due to the ongoing UFC antitrust lawsuit, which claims the UFC has abused their monsopony status. Mousasi’s claim contends that the PFL and UFC are the only places elite MMA fighters can ply their trade, and will likely rely on the league scooping up Bellator as evidence thereof.
Whether that will fly considering it describes a duopoly (and leaves out options like ONE Championship, RIZIN, KSW, and Oktagon MMA, all of whom have provided lucrative alternatives to an albeit small, select number of fighters) remains to be seen. The suit also alleges breach of contract, however, claiming that the PFL attempted to renegotiate Mousasi’s deal after taking control of Bellator MMA.
According to the Statement of Claim filed by Mousasi and his lawyers, when the star’s manager reached out to the promoter seeking a fight, PFL’s Davis replied via email stating “I am aware of Gegard given his very high compensation. Given Gegard is not a PPV draw, and is not a Champion, his deal is very surprising. PFL is a fighter first league, so we respect and empower all fighters. If he desires to have opportunities here then I can have Mike Kogan reach out to you and work on options with you.”
Mousasi’s contract with Bellator, pre-existing the PFL’s purchase of the promotion, entitled him to a guaranteed purse of $150,000 for his first four bouts, increasing to $200,000 thereafter. He also recieved a finish bonus for $50,000 for any fights won via stoppage, and a promotional fee per bout of $600,000. Meaning that, after his fourth fight for Bellator, he was entitled to either $800,000, or with a finish, $850,000 per fight.
None of Gegard Mousasi’s claims have been tested in court. The claims include breach of contract, breach of the implied covenant of good faith and fair dealing, unjust enrichment, and a claim for relief for Monopsonization under the Sherman Act. He also claims to have been misclassified as an independent contractor.
The timing of the news of the lawsuit coincides with the PFL’s biggest even of the year, Battle of the Giants, set to feature the debut of Francis Ngannou. That takes place on October 19 in Saudi Arabia.
