Mark Hunt is currently at the centre of a lawsuit filed against Dana White and the UFC following Brock Lesnar’s positive tests prior to and after their fight at UFC 200. Hunt is seeking financial compensation on the grounds of his allegations that Dana White, the UFC and Brock Lesnar had conspired to ensure that […]
Mark Hunt is currently at the centre of a lawsuit filed against Dana White and the UFC following Brock Lesnar’s positive tests prior to and after their fight at UFC 200. Hunt is seeking financial compensation on the grounds of his allegations that Dana White, the UFC and Brock Lesnar had conspired to ensure that […]
Mark Hunt’s lawsuit against the UFC as well as UFC President Dana White might be thrown out of court if the law firm that is representing the UFC gets their way as they’re arguing that Hunt’s allegations don’t hold up. Campbell and Williams, which is located in Las Vegas, litigates on the behalf of the
Mark Hunt’s lawsuit against the UFC as well as UFC President Dana White might be thrown out of court if the law firm that is representing the UFC gets their way as they’re arguing that Hunt’s allegations don’t hold up.
Campbell and Williams, which is located in Las Vegas, litigates on the behalf of the UFC. The law firm claims Hunt fails to establish a link “between the injury asserted and the purported injurious conduct” while attacking White with an “utter dearth of specific allegations.” The 26-page motion to dismiss the lawsuit was filed on Tuesday in U.S. District Court Nevada.
This was expected from the UFC and White (to dismiss the lawsuit) because they seek to avoid damages that could pay triple if Hunt’s claims are proven to be true in court. With the motion being filed, Hunt’s representatives have acknowledged that they would drop the matter if the UFC is willing to agree to a monetary settlement. The lawsuit came about after Hunt’s fight with former UFC heavyweight champion Brock Lesnar due to it being announced that Lesnar failed two drug tests (one test before and one test) after their fight at UFC 200 last July. Lesnar beat Hunt at the event via decision, but due to the failed drug tests, it was overturned to a no contest. Hunt named Lesnar and White as co-conspirators in a criminal scheme to rob him of a fair fight.
“UFC and its agents have affirmatively circumvented and obstructed fair competition for their own benefit, including being complicit in doping proliferation under the guise of advancing ‘the best anti-doping program in all of professional sports,’” read Hunt’s claim.
The UFC fired back and to dismiss the lawsuit they stated that the suit is “not a model of clarity” and claims the fighter ignores “the inconvenient fact that the strict anti-doping drug-testing procedures implemented by Zuffa and administered by the independent USADA are the vehicle by which cheating fighters have been exposed and punished.”
The UFC’s argument is that Hunt can’t prove there was a criminal conspiracy because he doesn’t provide “competent allegations” of “concrete injury to a specific ‘business or property’” required by RICO statutes, and the fighter “never identifies a single provision” of a breach of contract between him and the UFC.”
Regarding the breach of a contract that Hunt claims, the UFC stated that Hunt never identifies a single provision of either contract that Zuffa purportedly failed to perform.” Also, they stated that he can’t claim the defendants failed to honor his contract. It also argues the promotion can’t be held directly responsible for Lesnar’s failure.
“While it is undisputedly Zuffa’s goal and desire that all its contracted athletes comply with the ADP and applicable laws governing prohibited substances, the contractual obligation Hunt seeks to impose – whether as an express or implied term – is obviously impossible for Zuffa to perform as it has no ability to control what any given fighter is going to put into his or her body except by way of establishing a set of rules that (i) prohibits the taking of banned substances, and (ii) imposes penalties for established violations thereof. Zuffa has done that.”
Despite the ongoing legal matter, Hunt is fighting again in the UFC, and it’s this weekend at UFC 209 as he will be competing against Alistair Overeem.
UFC and President Dana White’s acting law firm are looking for Mark Hunt’s lawsuit to be thrown out of court, disputing allegations made by the heavyweight. MMA Junkie reports that Campbell and Williams are the Las Vegas-based law firm alleging Hunt’s claims fail when establishing a link “between the injury asserted and the purported injurious […]
UFC and President Dana White’s acting law firm are looking for Mark Hunt’s lawsuit to be thrown out of court, disputing allegations made by the heavyweight. MMA Junkie reports that Campbell and Williams are the Las Vegas-based law firm alleging Hunt’s claims fail when establishing a link “between the injury asserted and the purported injurious […]
If I were to say that UFC 209 was just another fight card then I would give you the permission to feel free to punch me directly in the nose for lying. If anything, UFC 209 is proving to be one of the stronger cards of 2017 so far and that’s in big part due to the main and co-main event. But though the main attractions are very much the selling point for this fight card, there a ton of other great matches to enjoy this weekend. Namely the heavyweight showdown between Alistair Overeem and Mark Hunt.
If I were to say that UFC 209 was just another fight card then I would give you the permission to feel free to punch me directly in the nose for lying. If anything, UFC 209 is proving to be one of the stronger cards of 2017 so far and that’s in big part due to the main and co-main event. But though the main attractions are very much the selling point for this fight card, there a ton of other great matches to enjoy this weekend. Namely the heavyweight showdown between Alistair Overeem and Mark Hunt.
Both men have lost their last bouts. Alistair Overeem was brutally knocked out by champ Stipe Miocic while Mark Hunt lost a controversial decision to former champion Brock Lesnar. Where Mark Hunt was competitive and essentially fighting a suped up version of Lesnar, Overeem faced off against a game and talented champion in form of Miocic. Overeem proved himself to be a match for the champ, but once again allowed his technical holes to shine through.
Overeem had his moments in the fight, mainly from the southpaw stance where he threw his back leg round kick and left cross with power and accuracy. But as the fight carried on and Overeem got clipped, we saw him take bigger chances with wilder shots that hit air. Not only that, he found himself with his back against the fence far too many times which opened him up to strikes. Ultimately a poorly executed low line sidekick would be his undoing as Miocic secured a takedown and proceeded to bounce punches off of Overeem’s chin.
Mark Hunt’s last battle was against a juiced up Brock Lesnar who looked to take the fight to the ground early and often. Hunt won’t have to worry about that when he enters the cage against Overeem. Hunt will be at a height disadvantage, but that shouldn’t be much of a concern for him considering that he’s always on the wrong end of the reach/height equation. The leaping left hook and counter right hand will be his best friends in this fight as Overeem has a tendency to drop his hands as he gets comfortable in the fight.
Overeem will want to keep Hunt at bay with front kicks and the left cross. Another great idea would be for him to execute the low line sidekick against Hunt. While he didn’t have too much success with it against Miocic, it’s a safe bet that Hunt won’t be looking to take the fight to the ground. The sidekick will destabilize Hunt’s movements and prevent him from just leaping forward as he tends to do.
Usually I’d make my prediction and just carry on, but instead I wanted to take the opportunity to discuss something that’s been on my mind in regards to Alistair Overeem.
When will he decide to hang it up?
I know, I know, after a veteran fighter loses a match by knock out there’s a tendency for everyone to kick a person while they’re down, call for their retirement. But in the case of Alsitair Overeem we’re looking at an individual who has lost by knock out ten times in his career, and that’s just in regards to his MMA match ups. He’s been knocked out in kickboxing bouts as well and you also have to consider all the training camps he’s been through in his career. If he suffers another devastating this Saturday night it’s certainly grounds for him to consider hanging it up. Either Overeem sees this as a chance to once again prove he’s the cream of the crop or this may be the modern example of going out on your shield in battle. Either way, when the bill comes due one can only hope that Overeem makes it through the other side no worse for ware.
Who do you think wins at UFC 209?
Jonathan Salmon is a writer, martial arts instructor, and geek culture enthusiast. Check out his Twitter and Facebook to keep up with his antics.
UFC heavyweight fighter Derrick Lewis is riding high following his fifth straight win at UFC Fight Night 105 when he beat Travis Browne in round two of their headlining bout in Halifax, Nova Scotia, Canada. Following the event, the big question was who Lewis would be fighting next as he rolls through the heavyweight rankings
UFC heavyweight fighter Derrick Lewis is riding high following his fifth straight win at UFC Fight Night 105 when he beat Travis Browne in round two of their headlining bout in Halifax, Nova Scotia, Canada. Following the event, the big question was who Lewis would be fighting next as he rolls through the heavyweight rankings and closer to a title shot.
The fight that the fans want to see is a showdown against fellow rising big man, Francis Ngannou, who has won nine fights in a row. During a recent appearance on The MMA Hour, Lewis talked about a potential fight against Ngannou.
“Yeah I will fight him, He’s real good. This is America, you know they like to see black on black crime, they thrive on that, they love that. I’ll give it to them, yeah.”
Although Lewis isn’t opposed to a bout against Ngannou, he wants a tough challenge and is eyeing a bout against longtime veteran Mark Hunt.
“Me and him (Francis) are fight close to each other (in the rankings) so I would like to fight someone that’s more of a challenge. I believe Mark Hunt is more of a challenge,” added Lewis. “Me beating Francis is not really going to boost my stats or get me closer to the belt. He hasn’t fought the tops guys yet, just one guy, but he is running through guys.”
It should be noted that Ngannou is ranked two spots ahead of Hunt in the official rankings and one ahead of Lewis so it would make sense for Lewis to fight Ngannou instead of Hunt if he wants to get closer to a title shot.
Either way, Ngannou or Hunt, it would be a very fun fight for Lewis. Hunt has his hands full at the moment as he is scheduled to face Alistair Overeem at this weekend’s UFC 209 pay-per-view (PPV) event in Las Vegas, Nevada. It will be interesting to see which bout the UFC plans on booking.
UFC has released betting odds for three of the top fights scheduled for next weekend’s UFC 209 pay-per-view, including the two title fight main events. UFC’s favorites/underdogs for the two headline bouts at UFC 209 match the opening betting lines released by the folks at Best Fight Odds last month, which as noted back then, […]
UFC has released betting odds for three of the top fights scheduled for next weekend’s UFC 209 pay-per-view, including the two title fight main events. UFC’s favorites/underdogs for the two headline bouts at UFC 209 match the opening betting lines released by the folks at Best Fight Odds last month, which as noted back then, […]
