Former UFC fighters are set to receive compensation payouts ranging from $100,000 to over $1 million following a landmark antitrust lawsuit against the Ultimate Fighting Championship. The settlement marks a significant victory for mixed martial artists who claimed the organization monopolized fighter contracts and restricted competition.
The UFC agreed in October to a $281 million settlement for fighters who competed under its banner between 2010 and 2017. The lawsuit, brought forward by a group of former athletes, alleged that the promotion violated antitrust laws by preventing fighters from negotiating freely with other promotions, effectively capping their earning potential. An estimated 1,100 fighters were impacted by these restrictive practices.
Law firm Berger Montague, which is managing the case, revealed that 97% of eligible fighters have already applied for compensation. According to the firm’s latest statement, at least 35 fighters will receive over $1 million each, while nearly 100 will get more than $500,000. Over 200 fighters are expected to be awarded upwards of $250,000, and more than 500 fighters will take home at least $100,000 from the settlement pool.
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The financial blow to the UFC comes amid mounting legal challenges. The promotion is currently facing a second major antitrust lawsuit, Johnson v. Zuffa filed by fighters who competed from 2017 to the present. The new suit demands damages and reforms to UFC’s contractual policies, which critics argue are exploitative and suppress free-market competition in combat sports. Plaintiffs in the latest case are seeking up to $1.6 billion in damages.
The fallout from the lawsuits has placed additional scrutiny on UFC’s business model at a time when the promotion is expanding globally. In 2023, UFC merged with World Wrestling Entertainment (WWE) to form the TKO Group, a powerful sports entertainment conglomerate.
Meanwhile, UFC’s international fight week is currently underway in Las Vegas, generating global buzz. Saturday’s headline event at the T-Mobile Arena features Ilia Topuria taking on Charles Oliveira for the UFC lightweight championship. Topuria, a former featherweight titleholder, will be looking to make history in the main event, while Alexandre Pantoja defends his flyweight title against Kai Kara-France in a highly anticipated co-main event.
This landmark legal development not only compensates former fighters but could also reshape the future of fighter pay and contract negotiations in MMA. The verdict has sparked industry-wide discussions about fairness, transparency, and the need for structural reform within the UFC’s billion-dollar empire.
