Well, who would have guessed this would happen? The UFC (Zuffa LLC.) has issued a lawsuit against the newly formed International Fight League (IFL) and, in response, the IFL has issued a lawsuit against the UFC. Is this just Dana White being his usual self and trying to bully any other MMA organization in the US?
The hearing for the case is currently scheduled for tomorrow, March 2. The defendants in this case are Kurt Otto (IFL co-founder), Gareb Shamus (IFL co-founder), Keith Evans (former UFC employee) and Steven Tornabene (former UFC vice president of DVD/video production).
Apparently, the UFC claims that former employee’s Evans and Tornabene took corporate documents and research with them when they joined the IFL, and because of this the UFC is trying to prevent the IFL from talking to any of the promoters, fighters, and sponsors that the UFC is involved with. The UFC is seeking an injunction, in Nevada state court, that would basically prevent the IFL from operating.
The IFL claims that they were very close to a television deal with Fox, and that the deal was shut down when the UFC threatened to sue Fox because of the “stolen trade secrets” that was used. The IFL claims that this “bullying” tactic by the UFC costs them revenue and filed their own lawsuit against the UFC in federal court in New York.
Does the IFL have the money to stand up to the UFC? Does either side have a solid case? Is the UFC scared of the IFL?
(Image taken from mmafighting.com.)
** Update **
Here is a link to the Underground on mma.tv where Pat Militech makes some statements. It appears that Dana may be trying to blackball some of his “core UFC guys.”
Also here are links to the actual court documents:
IFL Complaint
Zuffa Application for temporary restraining order
Order for shortened time period for hearing
IFL response to Zuffa injuntion request (This file containst some pretty good comments by Pat Militech)
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The UFC doesn’t own the mixed martial arts free market enterprise and, I feel they don’t have any strong points to accuse there former employees to win this case. The UFC and the IFL is part of the monopolistic competition of the mixed martial arts free market enterprise. The UFC lost their partnerships with there former mangement team and valuable employees. The UFC has perfect competition between sponsors with major mma gear whole sales and other mma related and unrelated firms. There oligopoly dominate independent mma shows/events and mma companies. In other words they have many resources and agreements with firms that showcases a perfect enterprise. I see as the market change competition changes. The UFC threats to sue a new company entering the MMA market with some trade secrets used to form the IFL. It’s easy to say that in the MMA market is dirty but what the IFL wants to offer a aubtitute for mixed martial art competition. Bottom line is IFL was accused to using UFC trade secrets and the UFC is seeking the maximum to win this case.
I say thats bull and mess. I feel It’s a free market and all the IFL is to promote something different and it doesnt matter if they lost there former employees. The only reason Zuffa and the ufc is doing this is because there scared of competition and there trying to buy this out and set a barrier for the IFL to enter the market.
Some very good points. The UFC and the IFL actually met in court again yesterday and nothing much was settled. It will be interested to see how the first IFL show turns out and if they can still sign that deal with FSN.
Wow dude (zxcfight), for someone who uses so many fancy words you sure make a lot of grammar mistakes ;)
Longest time gap for grammar nerd response ever. You win the internet sir, congratulations.
hahahahahaha
classic, just classic.
on a post from over two years ago no less!
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