UFC Fails To Dismiss Billion-Dollar Antitrust Lawsuit; Trial Could Happen In Spring 2024
The UFC has been dealt a massive blow after their appeal to dismiss a class action antitrust lawsuit against them was denied.
The move follows after a lawsuit was initially filed by ex-UFC fighters in 2014 against the organization over fighters’ pay. Some of the fighters included Cung Le, Jon Fitch and Kyle Kingsbury, as they alleged that the UFC had a monopoly on fighters’ pay. This was on the basis of alleged anti-competitive measures designed to destroy any competition, thus controlling what a fighter could get from the period of 2010-17.
Court just denied Zuffa’s appeal in UFC antitrust case pic.twitter.com/lWM0d8xFAj
— Bloody Elbow (@BloodyElbow) November 1, 2023
“Record evidence indicates both that these tactics were intentionally and consistently used by management to maintain contractual control of fighters and to send a message to fighters that they were essentially stuck with UFC for the life of their careers. The structure of these deals, particularly the fact that the fighter was only paid when they fought, meant that these tactics were a credible threat to every fighter under contract with [the UFC],” Boulware stated
The lawsuit was finally given the green light in August 2023, as Judge Boulware accepted the claims that were being made. It is believed that the damages being requested are in the region of $811 million to $1.6 billion for a total of 1,200 fighters. A trial is expected to go ahead in approximately April 2024, which does leave the UFC with an option to settle out of court. But either way, the UFC has plenty to consider moving forward.
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Great news
— Parsa Vahid (@PVahid) November 1, 2023
Excellent
— Joey Simpson (@WJoeySimpson) November 1, 2023
you love to see it
— Twooba/Twoobs (@tano_commander) November 1, 2023