UFC star Renato Moicano reacts to UFC antitrust lawsuit being settled for $335 million

Renato Moicano expresses a unique perspective of the settlement of the UFC anti-trust lawsuit.

UFC star Renato Moicano reacts to UFC antitrust lawsuit being settled for $335 million

Renato Moicano reacts to the settlement of the UFC anti-trust lawsuit (Via Imago)

The UFC faced a huge backlash amidst the heat of the class UFC anti-trust lawsuit filed by the promotion’s fighters. Over 1,500 fighters blamed the company for using unethical market practices to hinder fighters’ pay and monopolize the market. As such, the case reached a $335 million settlement this month. Now, Renato Moicano shared his thoughts about the case.

In his recent appearance on the MMA Hour, Renato Moicano stood by the UFC against the anti-trust lawsuit. He believed the plaintiffs were motivated by money more than bringing a positive change to the market. Here is what ‘Money Moicano’ said:

From our economic perspective it is all about protecting some sectors of the market. So if they do a antitrust (case) against UFC, that's going to be beneficial to all the companies like PFL. My stance is less regulation always is a better thing. In my opinion, I don't see UFC wrong, because they want like to be a profit organization.
Renato Moicano via The MMA Hour
YouTube video

While only very few fighters supported the UFC, Moicano expressed a thought-provoking angle to the anti-trust case. Motivated by money, the Brazilian fighters didn’t see wrong in the UFC since they just wanted to be a profitable company and a leader of the MMA space. However, he opposed the use of dishonest methods. As such, he welcomed the settlement of the anti-trust lawsuit.

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Pioneering the MMA space, the UFC deserved dominance in the market. However, some evidence suggests the UFC used unethical methods of negotiation to gain an advantage over other promotions. While contradicting opinions existed, Renato Moicano sided with the UFC. However, he was also the first to trash the promotion for its underwhelming showcases, like the UFC Apex events. He last fought at UFC Vegas 85 and secured a win against Drew Dober. Now, he will fight Jalin Turner at UFC 300.

Renato Moicano shares his thoughts about unionizing the fighters

Many fighters and fans were expecting a change in UFC’s fighter pay amidst the anti-trust lawsuit against the promotion. However, the case was settled for a whopping $335 million before it stood trial in the court. The amount was significantly lower than the plaintiff’s request in damages, 1.6 billion. Nonetheless, this case also shed hope with the unionizing of the fighters. Now, Renato Moicano opposed this idea and shared his views on the same.

Renato Moicano dislikes the idea of creating an union for the fighters
Renato Moicano dislikes the idea of creating a union for the fighters (Via UFC)

Renato Moicano expressed his dislike for the unionizing of the fighters. The Brazilian fighter believed in a free-market approach and didn’t want a third party’s interference. Here is what he said:

(Unionizing is) up to the fighters. I would not be in the same board. Because to me, if I don't like acontract, I don't sign... If me and the private company have agreement, I think we should respect and we should not depend on third parties to see if this is good or bad. This is regulation and I'm against regulation. A free market society has to decide by themselves what is good and what's bad for them.
Renato Moicano (Via The MMA Hour)

While Renato Moicano felt it wasn’t the right move to unionize the fighters, many believed in the cause. The need for a union stemmed from the constant oppression from the promotion’s low pay to its fighters. However, one such association would need the agreement of the majority of the fighters. As such, it remained an ideal.

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