No. 25-404

Mark Hunt v. Zuffa, LLC, et al.

Lower Court: Ninth Circuit
Docketed: 2025-10-03
Status: Denied
Type: Paid
Response Waived
Tags: civil-procedure contract-law mma-sports performance-enhancing-drugs public-policy summary-judgment
Latest Conference: 2025-12-05
Question Presented (from Petition)

Firstly, did the Ninth Circuit err in affirming
summary judgment on the Petitioner's battery and
aiding-and-abetting battery claims by holding that
consent to a regulated mixed martial arts (MMA) bout
under Nevada law extends to fighting an opponent
using performance-enhancing drugs (PEDs), contrary
to Kuchta v. Heller, 466 P.3d 534 (Nev. 2020), and
implicating national concerns about athlete safety in
regulated sports?

Secondly, did the Ninth Circuit's affirmance of
summary judgment on the Petitioner's fraud and civil
conspiracy claims, requiring more definitive evidence
than Nevada's typical "slight" evidentiary standard,
create a circuit split with the First, Third, Fifth, Sixth,
Seventh, and Eighth Circuits' lenient standards for
surviving summary judgment and violate the
Petitioner's Seventh Amendment right to a jury trial?
Further, substantial documentary evidence exists and
exceeds the lenient standards, had been referred to in
the ninth circuit (9th, Cir. Nov. 20, 2025) and
stipulated as indeed existing (9th. Cir. Apr, 2025).

Thirdly, does the enforcement of the
Promotional and Ancillary Rights Agreement's (PARA)
prevailing-party fee provision, imposing $390,605.00
in attorneys' fees and $56,751.05 in costs, violate
public policy under Nevada law by chilling meritorious
litigation, raising a question of national importance
about access to justice in adhesion contracts?

Question Presented (AI Summary)

Whether the Ninth Circuit erred in affirming summary judgment on battery and fraud claims involving performance-enhancing drugs in mixed martial arts, and whether the enforcement of a prevailing-party fee provision violates public policy

Docket Entries

2025-12-08
Petition DENIED.
2025-11-18
DISTRIBUTED for Conference of 12/5/2025.
2025-10-16
Waiver of right of respondent Brock Lesnar to respond filed.
2025-10-14
Waiver of Zuffa, LLC and Dana White of right to respond submitted.
2025-10-14
Waiver of right of respondent Zuffa, LLC and Dana White to respond filed.
2025-07-28
Petition for a writ of certiorari filed. (Response due November 3, 2025)

Attorneys

Brock Lesnar
David Bradley OlsenHenson & Efron, Respondent
Mark Hunt
Mark Hunt — Petitioner
Zuffa, LLC and Dana White
J. Colby WilliamsCampbell & Williams, Respondent