Mixed Martial Arts veteran Mark Hunt has filed a lawsuit against his employer, the UFC, Dana White and Brock Lesnar at the Nevada District Court for claiming that the fight organisation "obstructed fair competition".
The lawsuit comes months after the loss to Brock Lesnar at UFC 200, which was eventually declared a no contest after the former heavyweight champion tested positive for a banned substance. Following USADA's drug testing, it emerged that Lesnar's system contained anti-estrogen drugs. As a result, the WWE star was fined 10% of his reported $2.5 million earnings and subjected to serve a one-year ban. While, Hunt's reported purse was $700,000.
Consequently, Mark Hunt is suing the three respective parties for racketeering, negligence, breach of contract and fraud. The 'Super Samoan' spoke to ESPN about filing the lawsuit;
I want the UFC to understand it's not OK to keep doing what they're doing.
They're allowing guys to do this. They had a chance to take all the money from this guy, because he's a cheater, and they didn't.
What message is that sending to the boys and girls who want to be a fighter someday? The message is, 'You just have to cheat like this and it's OK.' In society, if you commit a crime, you pay. Why is it different in MMA? It's hurt the business, so it's even worse. They need to be held accountable for this.
The UFC - and Dana White in particular - have consistently claimed that their drug testing is among the most strict systems in the world but don't shy away from the fact that they are fighting a battle to reduce performance enhancing drug use.
Mark Hunt, now 42, will compete against Alistair Overeem at UFC 209. The Dutchman has previously served a suspension for performance enhancing drugs in the past.
