Dana White and Hunter Campbell under fresh pressure as UFC missing evidence fight intensifies in court

UFC president Dana White and executive Hunter Campbell are facing fresh legal attention as a federal court reviews whether key electronic evidence was not properly saved in an ongoing antitrust lawsuit. During a recent hearing presided by Judge Richard Boulware, the court investigated claims that the UFC might have failed to preserve important communication records.This type of hearing, known as a spoliation hearing, focuses on whether missing evidence happened by mistake or on purpose. If the judge believes there was intent, the UFC could face serious penalties under federal rules.The situation has quickly become a major talking point in the MMA world. White appeared in court and answered questions directly, but some of his statements raised eyebrows. Meanwhile, discussions on UFC commercial methods have persisted, particularly after fans and athletes responded to allegations regarding who really negotiates contracts. With the legal process still ongoing, the court’s decisions could play a big role in how the case moves forward.During the hearing, Dana White made several statements that drew attention. He said he uses a flip phone, does not use email or a computer, and does not personally handle most fighter negotiations. According to White, those responsibilities have been managed by UFC Chief Business Officer Hunter Campbell and other executives since 2017.Critics questioned these explanations, arguing they could influence how the court views missing communication records.Under Federal Rule of Civil Procedure 37(e), Judge Richard Boulware has the power to issue sanctions if the court finds that evidence was intentionally not preserved. Legal commentators have noted that proving intent is rare, but the judge still has broad authority to decide how missing information impacts the case. The ruling could affect how a jury views the UFC during trial or how certain evidence is used moving forward. Amid the public debate, several fighters supported White’s claims. Former bantamweight champion Sean O’Malley said on his podcast, “Yeah, I mean, I’ve never dealt with Dana ever dealing with fights… Hunter’s always done that.” Veteran fighter Matt Brown shared a similar view, saying he has mainly dealt with other UFC officials since the company was sold in 2017.As the legal battle continues, the court now holds the next big decision. The focus remains on whether the UFC’s actions were simple mistakes or something more serious. For now, the MMA world is closely watching what comes next.