Former UFC fighter Conor McGregor at a boxing event in 2023. Photo by Reuters
The American mixed martial arts promotion company Ultimate Fighting Championship (UFC) has agreed to pay US$375 million to settle an antitrust lawsuit, pending court approval.
TTKO Group – the UFC’s parent company – reached an agreement with the plaintiffs of Le v. Zuffa, a case in which former fighters allege the promotion violated antitrust laws. The lawsuit, which goes back a decade, claims that fighters received less pay than they should have because UFC’s business practices kept them from opportunities with other promoters.
Judge Richard Boulware II of the U.S. District Court of Nevada previously rejected a $355 million proposal that covered Le v. Zuffa and another suit.
The new proposed settlement is only for the Le case, with a second antitrust suit brought by former fighter Kajan Johnson and others still pending. Boulware must sign off on the agreement.
“We have reached a revised agreement with Plaintiffs to settle the Le case with terms that we believe address Judge Boulware’s stated concerns,” read a statement from UFC, per ESPN. “While we believe the original settlement was fair — a sentiment that was also shared by Plaintiffs — we feel it is in the best interest of all parties to bring this litigation to a close.
“As for the Johnson case, that process is in very early stages, and a motion to dismiss the complaint remains pending.”
The Le lawsuit alleges the UFC gained what is called a monopsony through its business practices by squashing the chance for fighters to take advantage of other offers from promoters.
Attorneys for the fighters have argued in favor of a settlement instead of a jury trial to avoid the possibility of a verdict followed by the lengthy appellate process, wanting the plaintiffs to receive a payout as soon as possible.
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