UFC Lawsuit Reveals Damning Fighter Negotiation Emails

UFC emails reveal brutal business practices.

New exhibits from the UFC antitrust lawsuit reveal brutal business tactics practiced by the UFC team when discussing fighter negotiations.

UFC Officially Involved in Class-Action Lawsuit, Over $1.6B in Damages Possible

These emails, shared from Pacer by John S. Nash on X, show members of the UFC team discussing the likes of Nate Diaz and Antônio Rogério Nogueira, as well as Jon Jones and other fighters.

Some emails of the UFC team discussing fighter negotiations. pic.twitter.com/0Vjs20LrIW

— John S. Nash (@heynottheface) December 2, 2023

It's important to note that in the context of the lawsuit, the UFC/Zuffa is defending itself against claims that it is running a monopsony on the MMA market. This means that any evidence of the UFC operating with the intent to eradicate or starve their competition works directly against their defense.

UFC Matchmaker: I'd Love to Cut This Fighter But He'd Go to Bellator

In one email concerning Nogueira, former UFC matchmaker Joe Silva remarks he'd "love to cut" the Brazilian fighter, but refuses to since he'd prosper in Bellator:

"Rogerio Nogueira has flat out refused to fight Daniel Cormier. He says he wants someone easier after his layoff. He was jumping up and down to fight Rich Franklin! Would love to cut him but he would just end up fighting Rampage [Quinton Jackson] in Bellator."

UFC Exec: Extend This Fighter's Contract When They Refuse Our Offer

In another email, current senior executive vice president and the COO of the UFC Lawrence Epstein, anticipates that Jon Jones will refuse a fight offer, and plans to extend Jones' contract with the UFC as a result.

"We need to send him [Jones] a letter formally offering the Gustafsson fight and giving him a specific deadline to accept or reject. When he says no we need to extend him."

Contract extensions are not uncommon, it's actually practiced very harshly by ONE Championship. However, anticipating (and planning to punish) the rejection instead of negotiating with the fighter could appear detrimental to the case.

ONE Championship Fighter Contracts Will Leave You Speechless

UFC Matchmaker Lowballs Fighters on Purpose & Gives Them Harder Fights if They Refuse

In another email from Silva, the topic of Nate Diaz's contract is being discussed, and whether he'll stay with the UFC or go with Strikeforce. 

Silva admits to lowballing Diaz "on purpose" knowing it would be turned down, and if Diaz decided to fight out his contract and leave the UFC, he'd be intentionally placed in the prelims against a tough opponent:

"I lowballed them on purpose the first offer knowing they would turn it down. How about I come back with 29+29, 32+32, 38+38.

"If they turn it down I put him in a prelim against a really tough guy for his last fight."

It's worth mentioning that Diaz would have been 10 fights deep in the UFC (13 including TUF) by the time of this email (dated April 20, 2010).

Diaz had a hard tenure with the UFC and definitely made it difficult for the promotion. Some may remember Diaz was scheduled to fight Khamzat Chimaev in his last bout before it fell through. This sounds eerily similar to Silva's email.

It's not looking optimistic for the UFC entering 2024, with the antitrust trial scheduled early in the year, as well as the PFL and ONE making big strides in the industry.

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