Judge gives final approval to $375 million UFC antitrust suit; suits urge fighters to collect on it
Judge Richard Boulware allows $375M trial settlement in Le v. Zuffa UFC antitrust lawsuit; TKO's Helm and Co. avoid damages for UFC's multi-bout contracts.
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Judge Richard Boulware approves $375 million settlement plan for UFC antitrust suit (Source: X)
Judge Richard Boulware on Thursday gave final approval to the $375 million settlement agreement in against UFC’s antitrust suit. One that ranges back from 2014. Ex-UFC stars Cung Le, Nathan Quarry, Jon Fitch, Brandon Vera, et al. acted as plaintiffs (Case No. 2:15-cv-01045-RFB-BNW) in the antitrust case. Le, Kajan Johnson/C.B. Dollaway later proposed a UFC Athlete-class suit that garnered support from some 1200+ fighters!
UFC® and its parent TKO Group Holdings (NYSE: TKO) were sublime about ponying out $375 million to shut down claims of anti-competitive conduct. The charge was of violating Section 2 of the Sherman Act, along with cutting competitive corners. However, fighter compensations never saw a dime boost from such practices. District Court Judge Richard Boulware previously rejected a $335 million settlement as it would not meet the demands. Low-order plaintiffs would pocket only about $3,000 in compensation!
This Antitrust lawsuit relates to fighters from 2010 to 2017. Le, and others in 2014 argued that the UFC was scheming a monopoly power in the market for the services of MMA fighters. The fighters’ claim hinted at exclusive contracts, coercion, and acquisitions. The second lawsuit covers fighters from 2017 to the present.
Richard Boulware also presented that particular fighters/plaintiffs in the second suit could object to arbitration and class-action waiver clauses in existing contracts. Besides failing to produce sufficient fighter compensation, the case was unbounded, It saw much neglect, bankruptcy, and more from industry standouts. So there’s finer threads and fallout from the first case.
There you have it. https://t.co/1sPLJLdOeW
— Luke Thomas🏋️♀️ (@lthomasnews) February 6, 2025
The second antitrust case is currently winding down as the two parties move closer to a potential trial settlement. A separate settlement agreement could be probable. But for now, both the fighters and the UFC continue to prepare for a possible future trial.
UFC lawyers want fighters to file claims for recovery
An agreement between the fighters and the UFC was reached in October last year. Boulware did grant a preliminary approval. But this latest move officially closes the case. The money will now go out to the athletes involved in the litigation.
Of course – the litigation heads in this Antitrust suit course will get a big percentage of the split. The exact amount to be paid to the athletes will still be subject to legal fees. Factors like total number of fights during the class action period will determine the receipt of the settlement. But during Thursday’s proceedings, UFC lawyers stressed to the court that they want the class action plaintiffs to file claims. Is this a brilliant tactic to thread them up or will they actually receive all that is due to them?
It’s anyone’s guess. In the initial filing, lawyers for the fighters set out the average amount each athlete is likely to receive in settlement.
Under the Settlement, Le Class members would recover [on average], …after all fees and costs are deducted, $250,000. Thirty-five Class members would net over $1 million; nearly 100 fighters would net over $500,000; more than 200 fighters would recover over $250,000; over 500 fighters would net in excess of $100,000; and nearly 800 would recover over $50,000…By any reasonable measure, the Settlement, if approved, would put “life changing” cash into the hands of the families of several hundred fighters now.
Le, et al. vs. Zuffa (Case No. 2:15-cv-01045-RFB-BNW) Antitrust Case spokesperson in an official statement media declaration
But the right way is hardly ever the case. A revised agreement with the anti-trust lawsuit arbitration clause sees north of $215 million going out to such fighters. The stipulation is that they have to have had active ballot appearances during periods.
Thus, a bevy of fighters stuck in the questionable 2014-2017 arbitration, receive a minimum amount of suppressed wages. In the vein of rich have ‘rich’ problems, even Conor McGregor got cut off 20% of his entire UFC earnings for the frame.
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