A battery and assault lawsuit filed against former UFC welterweight champion Matt Hughes in Clark County District Court was dismissed by plaintiff Jed Leist on June 16 after the parties settled out of court.
The case, which also cited intentional infliction of emotional distress, false imprisonment and negligence from Hughes, was filed on March 28, 2007, and scheduled to go before a jury trial on June 30.
According to court documents, the alleged altercation occurred “on or about” October 13, 2006 inside the Mandalay Bay Resort and Casino following UFC 64 “Unstoppable.”
The suit contended Hughes and/or other unnamed defendants “grabbed and placed” Leist in a hold “as to cause injury and damage.” Hughes’ actions were “unwanted, not consented or authorized,” by the plaintiff and inflicted “over his protests,” stated the documents.
Prior to the dismissal, Leist was seeking damages in excess of $10,000 per each charge plus attorney’s fees and additional expenses due to “severe humiliation, mental anguish and emotional distress.”
The suit also claimed Leist was both partially and permanently disabled from the alleged assault.
Multiple attempts to reach Hughes, Leist, and their representation by telephone and email were not answered.
An anonymous source in the fight community who was not an eyewitness to the incident told Sherdog.com that Leist approached Hughes and asked the wrestler to put him in a rear-naked choke for a photo.
According to the source, Hughes obliged Leist’s requests for him to tighten the choke “for realism” and forced Leist to tap out. Hughes then walked away, though Leist appeared to be nearly choked unconscious.
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