UFC responds to class-action antitrust lawsuit, vows to 'vigorously defend itself and its business practices'

Ultimate Fighting Championship (UFC) is not going down without a fight.

That's according to a statement from the promotion's official website, which came just hours after a media press conference in San Jose, Calif., where past and present UFC fighters Jon Fitch, Cung Le, and Nate Quarry announced a class action lawsuit against the world's largest mixed martial arts (MMA) promotion.

UFC responds:

The UFC is aware of the action filed today but has not been served, nor has it had the opportunity to review the document. The UFC will vigorously defend itself and its business practices.

Short and sweet.

The complaint against ZUFFA LLC -- parent company of UFC -- accuses the promotion of violating the Sherman Antitrust Act, after illegally maintaining monopoly and monoposony power by "systematically eliminating competition from rival promoters, artificially suppressing fighters' earnings from bouts and merchandising and marketing activities through restrictive contracting and other exclusionary practices."

Read the full complaint here.

For much more on the UFC lawsuit, including audio from Tuesday's media conference call, click here and here.