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https://scmp.com/sport/martial-arts/mixed-martial-arts/article/3039237/former-ufc-favourite-mark-hunt-rips-dana Mixed Martial Arts
Mark Hunt says UFC is a ‘cheating company’ that ‘rips fighters off’ after losing Brock Lesnar lawsuit
- Court rules against former UFC heavyweight’s remaining claim in dispute regarding fight with WWE star Lesnar
- New Zealand’s Hunt says Dana White and UFC ‘running a monopoly on the market’
Mark Hunt (below) was beaten by Brock Lesnar at UFC 200 in July 2016. Photo: AP
Mark Hunt’s legal feud with the UFC is officially over after a US district court ruled against the former UFC heavyweight’s final claim against the promotion on Saturday.
Last year, the 45-year-old Hunt (13-14-1) left the UFC after a long dispute over his fight with former heavyweight champion and current WWE champion Brock Lesnar (5-3) in 2016.
Lesnar’s decision win was ruled a no contest after it was found that he tested positive in a United States Anti-Doping Agency (Usada) drugs test collected before the fight.
Hunt accused the UFC of conspiring with Lesnar to conceal his return to MMA and purposely and thereby foregoing the standard four-month Usada drug testing pool for the promotion’s active fighters. Hunt publicly gave the UFC an ultimatum: turn over Lesnar’s flat-rate US$2.5 million (HK$19.5 million) purse or he would leave the promotion. The New Zealander argued that “if you get caught cheating you should lose all of [your purse].”
Usada and the Nevada State Athletic Commission suspended Lesnar for one year despite claims of taking tainted cream.
After leaving the UFC, Hunt filed a lawsuit against the promotion in 2017. A judge dismissed all previous claims – aside from the latest – in February of this year. The remaining charge was breach of good faith and fair dealing.
[You] can’t keep ripping fighters off and run monopoly on the market[.] Someone’s going to put [you] ... down
In light of the news, the “Super Samoan” took to social media to ensure his thoughts were heard.
“I tried to make things even on the battlefield of MMA but again the cheating company Dana White [and] UFC with all its billions, they ripped everyone off[.] Win again someone will die against a steroid using cheater and your s*** rip off company will be at fault,” Hunt said on Instagram, adding that he is not the first nor last to sue the company.
Image: Instagram/markhuntfighter
The UFC nor Lesnar have commented on the matter.
Hunt’s last three fights in the UFC were losses to Justin Willis, Alexey Oleinik and Curtis Blaydes. The former K-1 kickboxing and Pride star has not fought since.