Having spent five years competing within the UFC, where he consistently ranked among the top light heavyweights, Phil Davis is now advocating for significant changes to the promotion`s business model. His aim is to ensure fighters, including himself, can continue to challenge the sport`s elite.
In late May, a new antitrust lawsuit was filed against the UFC, with Davis listed as the lead plaintiff. Crucially, unlike previous high-profile cases – one that resulted in a $375 million settlement and another still ongoing – this legal action is not seeking monetary damages. Instead, Davis`s lawsuit targets the UFC`s business practices directly. It aims to modify contracts, specifically calling for the “elimination of restrictive and/or exclusionary clauses,” and seeks a “sunset provision” allowing fighters to “terminate the contract with no penalty within one year after its execution.”
According to Davis, the core issue is ensuring fighters are permitted to pursue the most significant opportunities available in the sport – an option he found unavailable after departing the UFC.
“Frankly, I don’t do this just for enjoyment,” Davis stated. “My ability to face the best competitors globally has been hindered. I cannot do that outside of the UFC. That constitutes a genuine miscarriage of justice. At one point, I held the Bellator championship, and shortly after, Glover Teixeira became the UFC champion. I had previously secured a very decisive win against Glover Teixeira. However, I was unable to capitalize on the chance [to fight him again]. He is the best in the world, and I would never diminish that; he earned it. But I believe I have the capability to defeat him once more. The current situation is simply unfair.”
He added, “Everyone involved in high-level, professional sports is driven to be the best. You compete against the best to prove you are the world`s best, and that is my sole motivation for this fight.”
While financial gain is inherent to prize fighting, Davis asserts that the primary focus of this specific lawsuit is solely on compelling the UFC to alter its operational methods.
His main objective is the removal of restrictive contract terms, which, for example, effectively eliminated any possibility of him pursuing a potential rematch against a UFC champion like Teixeira, simply because Davis was competing for a rival promotion.
“I am not seeking any form of damages or financial compensation,” Davis affirmed. “I haven`t been promised anything. All I desire is the opportunity to fight the best, and I want this not only for myself but for every other fighter competing.”
He continued, “If you are at that level, you should have the chance to fight the best in the world. Why would I not advocate for that for you? I want it for myself. I want it for everyone in this sport – the chance to be the best, fight the best, and deliver the biggest bouts for the fans. Ultimately, everyone benefits. Only one entity stands to lose. This is not a personal vendetta; this is simply what needs to happen.”
Davis, a former NCAA wrestling champion for Penn State, finds the notion that he wouldn`t have been allowed to compete against other collegiate athletes merely because they belonged to a different conference utterly absurd.
Should his lawsuit succeed, Davis is convinced the outcome will benefit every fighter currently competing in MMA.
“No other major sports league operates this way,” Davis commented. “Even in college sports, we had dual meets against teams outside our conference, like Oklahoma State. They were in a completely different conference. We wouldn`t typically face them except in major national events, but we scheduled a dual meet. At the time, we were ranked No. 2 nationally, and they were No. 1. We had the dual meet, and as it turned out, Penn State won.”
He concluded, “We emerged victorious, and that`s the essence of sports. We aimed for the top spot; they held it. We scheduled the match, and we came out on top. It`s a win-win scenario for everyone involved in the competitive process.”
As MMA continues its global expansion and rising popularity, Davis believes these changes are not just essential for the fighters but would also significantly improve the overall combat sports market.
“MMA has experienced tremendous growth and evolution,” Davis summarized. “Its current practices are outdated and restrictive. Frankly, everyone who is ranked globally should have the fundamental right to challenge the best fighters in the world.”
Murray Blackwood