The UFC on Tuesday sued Wanderlei Silva in Nevada district court, claiming the now-retired UFC fighter defamed the promotion and disparaged its business after his recent allegation of fight-fixing.
The lawsuit, obtained by MMAjunkie, claims Silva committed “intentional misconduct” and asks for undisclosed punitive damages for defamation as well as attorney’s fees. Zuffa LLC also asks for damages in excess of $10,000 for disparagement.
“Over the past year, Silva has continued to criticize Zuffa, its owners and executive officers, and the (Nevada State Athletic Commission),” wrote Zuffa attorney Colby Williams of Las Vegas-based Campbell & Williams. “While Zuffa has monitored Silva’s remarks, the company has largely dismissed Silva’s attacks as the misguided rants of a disgruntled ex-fighter. Silva’s latest outburst, however, indisputably crossed the line and necessitates swift legal redress.”
“Simply put, one of the most damning and damaging allegations to the reputation of a fight promoter like Zuffa is to brand it a fight-fixer,” the lawsuit says.
Silva, who lives in Brazil, has 20 days to respond to the litigation. MMAjunkie was unable to reach his Las Vegas-based attorney, Ross Goodman, for comment.
Silva, a frequent critic of the UFC since his lifetime ban from the Nevada State Athletic Commission, lashed out this past week on Facebook over the UFC’s decision to fire longtime cutman Jacob “Stitch” Duran in the wake of critical comments he made about the promotion’s apparel deal with Reebok. Silva claimed he has proof of “fixed fights” by UFC, but did not offer any to support his allegations.
Zuffa attorney Donald Campbell initially said in an email to MMAjunkie that the promotion would “respond in due course” to the fighter’s allegations. Williams wrote in the suit that Silva’s remarks “spread like wildfire throughout the MMA and broader sports community” in the U.S., “thereby creating the potential for Silva’s damaging statements to remain publicly available forever.”
Silva was given a lifetime ban after he evaded a pre-fight drug test in connection with a proposed bout with Chael Sonnen at UFC 175. He later admitted to using a banned diuretic but argued via his legal rep that the NSAC did not have the jurisdiction to test him as an unlicensed fighter.
A Nevada district judge in May overturned Silva’s ban, arguing the NSAC had the right to conduct the drug testing but didn’t have enough evidence to support a lifetime term.
Silva (35-12-1 MMA, 5-7 UFC), 39, retired after the NSAC’s initial decision and later complained that the UFC would not release him from contract. This past November, he was blocked from participating in a fighter signing for rival promotion Bellator.
