Payouts are anticipated to commence soon from the $375 million settlement stemming from the initial UFC antitrust lawsuit, which was originally filed in 2014.
This lawsuit, initiated by athletes including Cung Le and Nate Quarry, encompassed fighters who competed in the UFC between 2010 and 2017. Judge Richard Boulware of the United States District Court for Nevada granted final approval for the settlement this past February. On Thursday, Berger Montague, the law firm representing the fighters in this case and three other ongoing related lawsuits, announced that “over 97 percent of the approximately 1100 class members submitted timely claims” to receive their portion of the settlement funds.
This high participation rate represents an estimated “99 percent of the total compensation earned by these UFC fighters during the relevant period.”
Although individual payouts will differ, the law firm disclosed that the average payout is approximately $250,000.
According to a statement from the firm, “It is anticipated that 35 fighters would net over $1 million; nearly 100 fighters would net over $500,000; more than 200 fighters would recover over $250,000; and over 500 fighters would net in excess of $100,000.”
“These claims rates are unprecedented in class action litigation even in the best of circumstances,” stated Eric Cramer, lead attorney for the fighters. “It is particularly rewarding to see the level of participation after our 10-year battle for economic justice for the fighters.”
Berger Montague expressed immense pride in these results and gratification for the near-universal participation from fighters globally, including those from the U.S., Brazil, Canada, Japan, Russia, Latin America, and numerous other regions.
While this settlement addresses the claims of fighters who competed between 2010 and 2017, a separate antitrust lawsuit, led by athletes such as Kajan Johnson, covers fighters from 2017 to the present. This subsequent lawsuit is seeking both monetary damages and injunctive relief with the goal of potentially altering the UFC’s business practices.
Additional antitrust lawsuits filed more recently, headed by fighters Misha Cirkunov and Phil Davis, respectively, aim to represent fighters who signed contracts containing arbitration clauses and class action waivers. The second lawsuit, filed by Davis, specifically focuses on numerous changes to current UFC contracts and company operations, seeking only injunctive relief rather than monetary compensation.
Phil Davis explained his reasons for leading one of the antitrust lawsuits, discussing the matter ahead of his upcoming return to action in PFL.
“The truth of the matter is, I don’t do this for fun,” Davis commented. “My ability to fight against the best people in the world has been inhibited. I can’t do that outside of the UFC. That’s a real miscarriage of justice.”
He added, “I’m not seeking any damage and I’m not seeking financial compensation of any kind. I haven’t been promised anything. All I want is the ability to fight the best and I want that not just for myself but for every other person who is competing. You have the opportunity to fight the best in the world. If you’re at that level, I want you to fight the best in the world. Why would I not want that for you? I want that for me.”
While a precise schedule for distributing the payouts from the initial UFC antitrust lawsuit settlement has not yet been set, it is expected that funds will begin to be dispersed within the next few months.
Wesley Dunham 
Marcus Blakely