A recent warning from a judge highlights a significant issue in the ongoing UFC anti-trust lawsuit, pointing out that the absence of certain cell phones and records could be deemed as ‘sanctionable offenses.’ This past week, key figures in the UFC, including Dana White and Hunter Campbell, appeared in a Nevada courtroom to address concerns regarding incomplete disclosure materials related to a series of anti-trust lawsuits initiated by fighters.
These lawsuits include Johnson v. Zuffa, which accuses the UFC of utilizing its dominant market position to suppress fighter wages from 2017 onwards, mirroring an earlier case, Le vs. Zuffa, where fighters received a $375 million settlement for grievances dating back to 2012-2017. Another case, Cirkunov v. Zuffa, argues that UFC fighters who signed arbitration agreements should still be able to participate in the Johnson case, while Davis v. Zuffa represents fighters outside the organization claiming harm from UFC's anti-competitive practices.
All these cases are being overseen by Judge Richard Boulware, the same judge who managed the resolution of the Le vs. Zuffa case. According to attorneys representing the fighters, years’ worth of communications from White, Campbell, and UFC attorney Tracy Long were inexplicably missing from the discovery documents submitted, prompting a spoliation hearing last week.
If the UFC fails to recover this lost data, they may face serious legal consequences imposed by Judge Boulware. During the spoliation hearing held on February 11th and 12th, 2026, observers were not treated to dramatic courtroom exchanges, even with high-profile testimonies from UFC CEO Dana White and Chief Business Officer Hunter Campbell. Instead, the proceedings primarily involved discussions about responsibilities related to fighter contracts and the fate of old phones used by various employees.
The purpose of the hearing was to clarify why crucial communications from White and Long spanning five years were not presented to the lawyers representing the fighters. Additionally, a phone belonging to Campbell had never been scanned, which plaintiffs claimed was responsible for transmitting over 3,000 messages to UFC matchmakers. Overall, the testimonies painted a troubling picture of the UFC's negligence concerning their legal obligation to maintain and provide records for the court.
Legal analyst John Nash attended the hearing and shared insights about its potential implications on his Substack podcast, stating, "The judge is likely to impose some form of sanction against the plaintiffs. He indicated that these are indeed sanctionable offenses. The real question lies in how much fault he attributes to them and the range of penalties he may decide to enforce."
The UFC contended that Dana White is no longer involved in any matters relating to fighter contracts or matchmaking, suggesting that the missing communications are irrelevant. However, Judge Boulware’s probing questions during White’s testimony raised doubts about this claim. Nash elaborated, saying, "If the judge concludes that these materials are crucial to the case, particularly if their absence hampers the ability of plaintiffs to present their arguments effectively, it complicates the entire judicial process. How can the plaintiffs establish their case? How can the judge make informed decisions? How can the jury evaluate the evidence?"
Nash also pointed out that the judge needs to rule on the arbitration agreements involved in Cirkunov v. Zuffa, emphasizing that if he determines the missing materials were lost due to either gross negligence or intentional misconduct by the UFC, he might have to side with the plaintiffs. "In such a scenario, the judge could dismiss the arbitration agreements under Nevada law, allowing all fighters to rejoin the Johnson class, significantly increasing the financial stakes of the ongoing anti-trust case."
The more fighters included in the class action, the greater the potential payout as the case progresses. The previous $375 million settlement from Le v. Zuffa would pale in comparison to the estimated $1.6 billion that fighters in Johnson v. Zuffa might demand. The repercussions of these sanctioned discovery violations could have lasting effects on the UFC throughout the trial phase.
“If this trial proceeds,” Nash remarked, “the judge might instruct the jury to interpret any arguments based on missing evidence in a manner that is most unfavorable to the UFC and most beneficial to the fighters.”
Judge Boulware has granted UFC lawyers an additional 30 days to resolve the issues surrounding the missing phones and records, but it appears unlikely that the communications from Dana White will be recovered. The judge’s anticipated response to this situation remains uncertain, but he has made it abundantly clear that he is displeased with the UFC’s inadequate record-keeping, especially considering they were under a court order to preserve these materials.
The legal repercussions of his ruling could be far-reaching, potentially leading the UFC towards yet another costly settlement with its fighters.
