Two years ago, the ongoing antitrust lawsuit against the UFC revealed some tactics Zuffa had used to stifle their competitors at the time. Part of it is a text exchange between UFC president Dana White and then-owner Lorenzo Fertitta.
In a February 2014 text message discussion between White and Lorenzo Fertitta regarding re-signing Gilbert Melendez, Melendez’s contract with Zuffa was ending and he had come to an agreement with Bellator. In response, Zuffa exercised the right to match clause to re-sign Melendez.
Fertitta texts White: “We gotta keep taking these f-ckers oxygen till they tap out.