DMX is set to have more than a bruised ego after pulling out of a celebrity martial arts fight - his wallet could take a beating after the promoter filed a $1 million lawsuit against the rapper.

The troubled hip-hop star signed up to battle it out in the ring with actor Eric Martinez in an Alabama Pride MMA (Mixed Martial Arts) bout next month.

He subsequently dropped out of the match amid claims his safety would be put at risk - but organisers later alleged he quit after they refused to fix the fight to ensure he was crowned champion.

Promoters from Thunder Productions had to make last minute amendments and roped in rapper-turned-reality star Coolio to take DMX's place.

And now they are demanding DMX pay for wasting their time - the company filed a $1 million suit at a Birmingham, Alabama court on Friday, according to TMZ.com.

The fight is set to take place on 12 December.