A second antitrust case against the UFC has forced promotion CEO and President Dana White, as well Chief Business Officer Hunter Campbell, to take the stand in Las Vegas this week.
The ensuing testimony, on Wednesday and Thursday, has offered a rarely seen glimpse into the day-to-day operations of the UFC.
The case, Johnson v. Zuffa, was originally included in a previous antitrust settlement agreement alongside the initial class action lawsuit against the promotion, brought about by fighters including Cung Le, Nate Quarry, and Jon Fitch in 2014. However, the original settlement later excluded the Johnson case, brought about by former UFC fighter Kajan Johnson and covering a period from 2017 onward, after judge Richard Boulware raised concerns that the proposed amount was not significant enough.
Now, Boulware is overseeing Johnson v. Zuffa separately (there’s also a third antitrust case, Cirkunov v. Zuffa), with the issue of disclosure and lost cell phones rearing its head recently. Matchmaking and fighter contracts have also been topics of disucssion.
As part of White’s testimony, the face of the UFC claimed to be involved “less than zero” in negotiating fighter contracts in recent years. Instead, according to White, he leaves contracts to Campbell, and matchmakers Sean Shelby and Mitch Maynard.
White also claimed that he is no longer involved in matchmaking, for the most part, saying only that once matchmakers get a bout “down to the one yard line,” he’ll join in for a discussion (h/t MMA Fighting). “You won’t find one manager on this planet who will tell you I’ve negotiated a deal in I don’t know how long,” White also stated.
According to White, he is not tech savvy, used a flip phone until required to switch to a smartphone due to the ongoing lawsuits against the UFC, and does not use e-mail.
Campbell, meanwhile, revealed that the promotion had attempted to sign Rico Verhoeven, the kickboxing legend, for the promotion’s debut on Paramount+. However, the company balked when Verhoeven requested over a million dollars to fight.
He also backed White’s claim that the UFC’s most recognizable name is no longer involved in fighter contracts. “Dana is a very unique individual,” stated Hunter (h/t MMA Junkie), saying that White was now more focused on the production side of things, and shows like the Sphere and UFC White House, as well as growing the sport.
Campbell also confirmed the use of LOAs (Letter of Agreements) alongside UFC contracts, to supplement fighter income off the record. Campbell defended this practice by suggesting that the possibility of fighters, specifically from certain areas, being shaken down or extorted was high.
Using the example of Diego Lopes, who comes from an impoverished area of Brazil, Campbell noted that “violence is a very real and serious concern with these guys.”
Judge Boulware has expressed displeasure with many of the UFC’s tactics during the ongoing trial, with considerable focus of late on the promotion’s handling of cell phone data. In particular, one of White’s phones appears to have gone missing, with White claiming it was stolen by a former employee.
The spoliation (tampering, destruction, alteration or concealment of evidence) hearings as they relate to the trial are expected to conclude in April.
The original UFC antitrust settlement, in the Le v. Zuffa, was $375 million U.S., with fighters paid out in 2025. With 1,121 former and current UFC fighters eligible, 1,088 made claims, roughly 97%.
