UFC Settles Lawsuits with Former Fighters, Agrees to $335 Million Payment Before Court Case
The parent company of the Ultimate Fighting Championship (UFC), TKO Group, has reached a significant settlement of $335 million (£263 million) on two lawsuits brought forth by a group representing approximately 1,200 former UFC athletes.
These athletes alleged that the UFC’s contractual agreements stifled their ability to explore alternative promotional opportunities. The lawsuits, based on anti-trust claims, had initially sought damages of up to $1.6 billion (£1.25 billion).
Originally scheduled to commence on April 15, a court case is now deemed unnecessary due to the settlement agreement.
A spokesperson for the UFC expressed satisfaction with the resolution, stating, “We are pleased to have reached an agreement to settle all claims asserted in both the Le and Johnson class action lawsuits, bringing litigation to a close and benefiting all parties.” The final terms of the settlement are pending court approval.
The consolidation of five separate lawsuits between 2014 and 2015, along with a subsequent lawsuit filed in 2021, culminated in this settlement. The collective of former fighters involved in these legal actions had competed in UFC bouts spanning from 2010 to 2017, led by individuals such as Cung Le, Kyle Kingsbury, Kajan Johnson, Brandon Vera, and others.
In response to the settlement, the group of former fighters released a statement on X, expressing their satisfaction with the outcome and indicating their intent to provide further details upon submission to the court within the next 45-60 days.
It’s noteworthy that the UFC merged with World Wrestling Entertainment (WWE) in 2023, resulting in the formation of the TKO Group. This settlement represents a significant development in the ongoing legal proceedings concerning athlete contracts and anti-trust claims within the mixed martial arts industry.