Ali Abdelaziz’s Dominance MMA is going through a contempt declare for failing to adjust to court-ordered doc manufacturing within the Johnson v. Zuffa antitrust case towards the UFC. The plaintiffs allege that Mr. Abdelaziz and his administration firm staged a “mutiny” in early January 2026 and won’t produce a single doc with no second courtroom order.
Ali Abdelaziz and Dominance MMA
Ali Abdelaziz runs Dominance MMA, a administration firm that represents a number of UFC fighters together with Kamaru Usman, Justin Gaethje, Khabib Nurmagomedov, Kayla Harrison, Henry Cejudo, Gilbert Burns, Dan Ige and Islam Makhachev.
Based by Abdelaziz in 2008, the corporate offers contracts, sponsorship and profession assist for purchasers throughout promotions such because the UFC and PFL. Abdelaziz steadily trains with fighters on the American Kickboxing Academy and maintains a detailed relationship with athletes in Dagestan.
UFC lawsuit
Cajun Johnson, Clarence Dollaway, and Tristan Connelly filed the Johnson v. Zuffa lawsuit in 2021 in the US District Court docket for the District of Nevada. The lawsuit targets UFC dad or mum firm Zuffa LLC, TKO administration firm and Endeavor Group Holdings for antitrust violations since June 30, 2017, and is an extension of claims from the settled Le v. Zuffa case. Plaintiffs allege that the UFC suppresses fighters’ pay and excludes rival promoters by long-term unique contracts.
Johnson v. Zuffa focuses on allegations that, starting June 30, 2017, the UFC maintained an unlawful monopoly over combined martial arts athletes by artificially suppressing compensation by anti-competitive practices. The plaintiffs allege that the UFC’s dad or mum firm, Zuffa LLC, TKO administration firm and Endeavor Group Holdings, used unique long-term contracts to lock fighters into below-market pay whereas concurrently shopping for out or eliminating rival promoters who might have supplied aggressive options.
The case extends authorized challenges from an earlier Le v. Zuffa case, which was settled in 2024 for $375 million and covers a unique time interval. The plaintiffs declare that the UFC’s market dominance has prevented them from incomes truthful wages in a aggressive market, and are searching for damages for fighters who competed within the interval since 2017.
“Revolt”
Dominance MMA acts as a 3rd get together subpoena recipient in discovery. The corporate is managing combatants concerned within the incident and is prompting requests for paperwork associated to contracts and transactions.
Ali Abdelaziz’s Dominance MMA has acquired a courtroom order to show over paperwork associated to fighter contracts and enterprise transactions as a part of the invention course of in Johnson v. Zuffa. The corporate had deliberate to work with a third-party vendor known as Holo Discovery to gather and create these information, however though it initially appeared to agree in late November 2025, Dominance MMA reversed course and refused to signal the seller settlement or present documentation.
In a January 5, 2026 cellphone name, Dominance’s attorneys advised the plaintiffs that Abdelaziz and his staff had been in a so-called “rise up” and wouldn’t flip over any paperwork with no second courtroom order, citing confidentiality considerations and alleged derogatory posts on social media.
The plaintiffs argue that this refusal violates the courtroom’s present orders and obstructs the authorized discovery course of, so they’re asking the choose to carry the courtroom in contempt and power compliance. Merely put, Abdelaziz’s firm has refused to show over legally required paperwork that may very well be related to proving whether or not the UFC has suppressed fighters’ pay, and the fighters suing the UFC are hoping the courts will punish that refusal and power Dominance to cooperate.
Ali Abdelaziz’s refusal to undergo discovery in Johnson v. Zuffa suggests a strategic alignment with the UFC’s protection and displays his function as a protection witness within the earlier Lu v. Zuffa antitrust case. By withholding paperwork, Dominance MMA could also be attempting to guard the UFC from proof that might assist the plaintiffs’ claims of coercive contract negotiations and wage suppression.
Withheld paperwork are communications that might reveal collusion and monopolistic techniques. They may uncover proof that Dominance MMA labored with the UFC to strain fighters into below-market offers, violating managers’ fiduciary duties. It additionally might present proof of what the plaintiffs declare is an “iron-fisted rule,” together with threats to freeze fighters who strive free company.
On November 20, 2025, after an alternate of paperwork, Plaintiffs identified that Dominance MMA’s vendor settlement had not been signed since October 17, 2025. The seller, Hollo, pursued a recall internally earlier than taking authorized motion. A dialogue ensued and the UFC said that the time period couldn’t be searched at the moment. The plaintiff filed a manufacturing order with the courtroom prematurely. Dominance MMA didn’t reply, citing unclear causes. Social media experiences described this as Abdelaziz’s “rise up” towards the request.
The plaintiffs sued Dominance MMA for contempt. They’re searching for an order exhibiting why Dominance mustn’t produce the paperwork. The movement additionally seeks reimbursement of charges and bills.
Particular person requests will embody manufacturing schedules, however there shall be no refunds or full restoration of prices if Dominance exhibits trigger. No response from Dominance MMA or Abdelaziz is within the public file. The event exams third-party cooperation in an ongoing antitrust lawsuit filed after the settlement of a earlier UFC fighter class motion lawsuit. A courtroom ruling on this movement continues to be pending.
