MMA Junkie reports that the Federal Trade Commission has reopened its investigation against Zuffa and has contacted people within the MMA industry about Zuffa’s business practices.
The government investigation occurred after Zuffa acquired Strikeforce. The agency evaluated Zuffa’s financial documents and talked to UFC execs but the investigation yielded nothing to command a further inquiry at the time. The FTC closed its investigation of Zuffa in early 2012. MMA Payout’s FOIA request for documents related to that investigative led to nothing of substance except for a couple form letters which indicated that it “reserved the right to reopen the investigation if it deemed it necessary.”
It appears that it was necessary.
With the filing of the antitrust lawsuit by former UFC fighters, it appears that the FTC will take another look at Zuffa business practices.
The news comes out a day after Zuffa filed a motion to stay discovery pending its Motion to Dismiss plaintiffs’ complaint.
Payout Perspective:
The reopening of the investigation may help plaintiffs in its position that its complaint is valid. It also will help with opposing Zuffa’s motion to stay discovery. The FTC investigation may help plaintiffs with the argument that Zuffa’s financial documents are relevant to the litigation as you might expect an anticipated discovery fight over that information. While the investigation by the FTC and the antitrust lawsuit are independent of one another it is clear that you might infer a tie-in between the two. We will see how both lawsuit and government investigation proceed.
Jack Torrance says
Good news.
Time to see what type of % the fighters are really making, since the UFC claims they pay 50% revenue, there’s nothing to worry about here.
saldathief says
If it wasn’t for bad news there wouldst be any UFC news, except for the ton of bullshit that spews out of Dana’s pie hole!
d says
Saldaqueef, clean your shitting mess up.
joe says
*that moment when you realize that “d” could be Dana*
http://media.247sports.com/Uploads/Assets/851/135/1135851.gif
d says
That moment you realize you are dead wrong Joe and have to come up with petty insults to save face.
FightBusiness says
Wow, i’ve actually been skipping these lawsuit stories because there boring but if the federal government is on the ufc’s ass I would be very concerned if I were donna white. the bad press alone makes the company look bad. the haymon lawsuit just looks bad on haymon not the sport. regardless haymon is shattering records so how bad can he be? UFC is getting exposed
d says
Shattering records in fagbusiness’ mind is the equivalent to flushing 200m down the drain. PBC going down the tubes.
turd says
boxers were making more money 30 years ago than the ufcs top fighters do now
i am a long time fan, marvin hagler made more money for his one fight against leonard in 1987
than gsp has made in his whole career, and gsp has been a huge ppv draw
something isnt right there.
d says
Turd, you are a turd and are just spewing out fiction and boxing propaganda. You are also clearly one of Sampson’s fag aliases.