Bellator Files Lawsuit Against UFC to Prevent Release of Confidential Information

Bellator MMA has filed a lawsuit against the UFC attempting to block two subpoenas from the Las Vegas-based promotion that would allow the release of “confidential” fighter contract and negotiation documents.

Bellator filed the lawsuit in U.S. District Court for the Central District of California. The Sporting News first reported the lawsuit.

An anti-trust lawsuit was filed against the UFC by Jon Fitch, Nate Quarry, Cung Le and others in 2015 accusing the company of “maintaining an illegal monopoly….by systematically eliminating competition from rival promoters, artificially suppressing fighters’ earnings from bouts and merchandising and marketing activities through restrictive contracting and other exclusionary practices.” In order to help defend itself against the anti-trust suit, the UFC filed subpoenas that would allow its lawyers to have access to copies of Bellator’s contracts and detailed financial records.

According to the lawsuit, Bellator claims that "the subpoenas improperly seek trade secret and other sensitive information protected from disclosure; they are overbroad and unduly burdensome; and this information cannot be adequately protected by the litigants’ stipulated protective order.”

In an affidavit, Bellator claims that it has "produced in excess of two thousand pages of responsive documents" in regards to the anti-trust case. However, the UFC is still seeking additional information to help its case.

Bellator MMA President Scott Coker filed an eight-page letter to accompany the lawsuit claiming that the release of such confidential information would do “grave harm” to his organization.

"Accordingly, disclosure of Bellator's confidential information pursuant to the Nevada subpoena would give Bellator's largest and most powerful competitor a significant and unilateral advantage that would negatively harm Bellator and, in my opinion stifle competition in the MMA industry,” Coker wrote.