There is a possibility that the UFC may face legal action regarding allegations of exploiting its dominant position as a monopsony in the MMA industry, resulting in unlawful underpayment of fighters over an extended period.
Yes, this is the same antitrust case that’s been winding its way through courts for nearly a decade. It involves two class action lawsuits: Le (representing fighters from 2010 to 2017), and Johnson (representing fighters from 2017 to 2021). Back in March it was announced that a settlement had been reached between UFC and lawyers representing the fighters worth $335 million.
It appears that the judge presiding over the case may decline the settlement and compel a jury trial.
The issue lays in how the settlement would be split between the two classes: Le fighters would receive six figure payments, while Johnson fighters who signed arbitration clauses would receive a flat fee of $3000. With no significant changes in the way UFC does business with its fighters, that’s a bitter pill for them.
“It is difficult for me to understand why, if Johnson were settling separately, that class members would agree to this amount of injunctive relief,” Courthouse News Service quoted Judge Boulware as saying.
According to Boulware, fighters currently signed with the UFC are prohibited from taking part in class action lawsuits, which implies that by accepting a settlement, they essentially forfeit their right to file any future claims against the UFC.
In an unexpected turn of events, fighter lawyers may encounter situations where they are compelled to proceed to trial despite their preference for reaching a settlement and moving on.
Judge Boulware has indicated that he will issue a verdict on the settlement within the upcoming week.
