The Federal Trade Commission has contacted multiple MMA industry veterans for interviews in conjunction with the reopening of an investigation into UFC parent company Zuffa LLC’s business practices.

“They’ve been contacting a lot of people,” said one industry vet, who asked to remain anonymous because of the sensitivity of the issue. “I think we’re probably ripe for a little bit of government intervention.”

A second industry veteran, who also spoke on condition of anonymity due to the sensitivity of the matter, said an FTC investigator was in contact this week and relayed that the agency was again looking into Zuffa after becoming aware of an ongoing antitrust case against the promoter.

“Those lawsuits were what they were interested in,” the second industry veteran said. “They decided to reopen (the investigation) and look into it.”

UFC Chief Legal Officer Kirk Hendrick said the plaintiffs’ complaints are “meritless.”

“Now that the plaintiffs’ meritless complaints have apparently made their way to the FTC, what are the plaintiffs going to do if the FTC does not agree with them? We don’t think the FTC will,” he told MMAjunkie in a prepared statement.

The FTC does not comment publicly on pending investigations, a rep from the agency told MMAjunkie.

This past December, several UFC veterans teamed up with prominent antitrust litigators to file an antitrust suit against Zuffa. The fighters argue the promoter has engaged in anticompetitive practices and abused its position in the marketplace. Currently, Zuffa is fighting in court to delay the plaintiffs’ lawyers from unearthing business records in the discovery portion of the case. A ruling to certify the suit as class-action litigation is still pending.

In 2012 UFC executives confirmed the acquisition of now-defunct promotion Strikeforce triggered an investigation by the FTC. The investigation attempted to determine whether Zuffa’s purchase violated antitrust laws and engaged in unfair or deceptive business practices.

After the government agency looked at the fight promoter’s books and deposed several prominent industry veterans, including UFC executives, the FTC declared: “Upon further review of this matter, it now appears that no further action is warranted by the commission at this time. Accordingly, the investigation has been closed.”

However, the letter added: “This action is not to be construed as a determination that a violation may not have occurred, just as the pendency of an investigation should not be construed as a determination that a violation has occurred. The Commission reserves the right to take such further action as the public interest may require.”

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(UPDATED on 5/15/15 at 6:45 a.m. ET with comment from Hendrick.)