Over 97 percent of fighters participate in UFC antitrust lawsuit settlement, average payout revealed

Payouts are expected to begin in the near future to disperse the $375 million settlement from the first UFC antitrust lawsuit that was initially filed in 2014.

The lawsuit brought forth by athletes such as Cung Le and Nate Quarry covered fighters who competed in the UFC between 2010 and 2017 with Judge Richard Boulware from the United States District Court for Nevada approving the settlement back this past February. On Thursday, Berger Montague—the law firm representing the fighters in this antitrust lawsuit as well as three others currently happening in the courts—revealed that “over 97 percent of the approximately 1100 class members submitted timely claims” to receive funds from the settlement.

That accounts for an estimated “99 percent of the total compensation earned by these UFC fighters during the relevant period.”

While payouts vary from fighter to fighter, the law firm revealed that the average payout is approximately $250,000.

“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,” per a statement from the law firm.

“These claims rates are unprecedented in class action litigation even in the best of circumstances,” Eric Cramer, lead attorney for the fighters said in a statement. “It is particularly rewarding to see the level of participation after our 10 battle for economic justice for the fighters.

“Berger Montague is extremely proud of these results and gratified by the near universal participation of fighters from around the world, including fighters from the U.S., Brazil, Canada, Japan, Russia, Latin America, and many other places.”

While this settlement takes care of the fighters who competed in the UFC between 2010 and 2017, another antitrust lawsuit led by athletes such as Kajan Johnson covers athletes from 2017 to the present. That lawsuit is seeking both damages and injunctive relief to potentially change the UFC’s business practices.

The additional antitrust lawsuits filed more recently headed up by fighters Misha Cirkunov and Phil Davis, respectively, are looking to represent fighters who signed contracts featuring arbitration clauses and class action waivers with the second lawsuit focused on numerous changes to current UFC contracts and how the company does business. That second lawsuit filed by Davis seeks only injunctive relief, not monetary damage.

Davis explained why he led the charge with the antitrust lawsuit when speaking to MMA Fighting ahead of his upcoming return to action in PFL.

“The truth of the matter is, I don’t do this for fun,” Davis said. “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.

“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 an exact timeline for the payouts for the initial UFC antitrust lawsuit settlement hasn’t been determined, it’s expected funds will start being dispersed within the next few months.