“The only person that won was the attorneys,” AJ McKee’s father calls UFC’s $335 million anti-trust lawsuit settlement ‘smart’

There’s no clear winner when two giants collide. UFC’s billion-dollar Anti-trust lawsuit started small. However, Dana White and Co. allegedly engaging in anticompetitive conduct gained traction. Ex-UFC Cung Le, Nathan Quarry, Jon Fitch, Brandon Vera, Luis Javier Vazquez, and Kyle Kingsbury acted as plaintiffs (Case No. 2:15-cv-01045-RFB-BNW). Le, Kajan Johnson/C.B. Dollaway later proposed a class action antitrust with 1,214 fighters signing on. AJ McKee‘s father, Antonio McKee, weighed in on it recently.

Under the TKO Holdings umbrella, the union proved a saving grace, with UFC settling to pay $335 million. The 80-page ruling obtained by MMA Junkie and other outlets brought uneven fighter pay to the forefront. UFC-Bellator MMA‘s leaked transcripts (of which AJ McKee is a part) showed White’s boastful micromanagement and sneering at fellow promoter Scott Coker.

Now, here’s what Antonio McKee prompts Ariel Helwani, with his son in tow:

Well, you know...it's great. But they shouldn't have settled...what's changed? Nothing's changed...So, I basically see a bunch of attorneys sell up...I think it was the attorneys...cause I was in on the original lawsuit, and I still have the paperwork. And the way the percentages are split...The only person that won here was the attorneys.

Antonio McKee via The MMA Hour

Much like AJ McKee, his father is also of Bellator fame. His highlights against William Sriyapai at Bellator 228 is a famed affair. The lightweight was in on the original lawsuit, which incurred billions in damages. Uneven scaling of UFC payouts subsequently saw light in the due process. However, McKee urged that nothing has changed for the fighters.

While a far cry from that particular sum, in hindsight, Helwani and McKee nod that this was probably smart. As neither the fighters nor the management would come out on top. The only ones that did were the litigators mediating the process. The fighters would rather choose money than look for change. Can anyone blame them? Will that mean fighters will stay away from the UFC for poor pay?

AJ McKee in the UFC: Yay or Nay?

AJ McKee is a featherweight staple and current lightweight phenom at Bellator MMA. The former Bellator featherweight boasts a 22-1-0 profile. The #5 lightweight recently submitted Clay Collard at the spectacular PFL vs. Bellator: Champions card.

McKee has had noted lead-ups and highlights. Like his bout and yet another submission over Patrício “Pitbull” Freire at Bellator 263. Another such win was at Bellator 301. While going 3-0 in his pro run, he edged out Sidney Outlaw via unanimous decision last year.

However, ‘Mercenary’ was denied any mic time at the post-fight presser. Taking to his X account, check out what MMA coverage journo for SportsNet, Aaron Bronsteter (@aaronbronsteter) had to say on the matter:

The UFC isn’t without similar ridicules of snubbing media time. However, this particular instance was just too much for the top lightweight.

Once on an 18-win streak, AJ McKee was often billed as the face of the 145-pound weight class back then. Speaking to The Schmo, he has once nudged Max Holloway to be his dream UFC fight. Alexander Volkanovski‘s name was also floating around combat circles. News of his shift to UFC was abuzz for quite a while.

However, there’s an ever-present rivalry dynamic between PFL (merged with Bellator) and UFC. And fresh off a billion-dollar lawsuit, plus with a successful win in the 2024 season, nothing is thus slated for McKee’s transition to UFC.

In case you missed it:

• ‘Year of Kobe Bryant’ looks promising for star fighter AJ McKee ahead of PFL Champs vs Bellator Champs Saudi event
• “That’s very unethical”- Patricio Pitbull blasts AJ McKee for flirting with the UFC while being Bellator’s featherweight champ

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