A U.S. District Judge in Las Vegas has granted preliminary approval for a landmark $375 million settlement aimed at concluding the first of two antitrust lawsuits against the Ultimate Fighting Championship (UFC). The settlement marks a significant milestone in a legal battle that has spanned nearly a decade.
On October 22, Judge Richard Boulware approved the terms of the agreement between UFC’s parent company, TKO Group, and the plaintiffs in the case led by fighter Cung Le. This settlement follows Boulware’s rejection of an earlier proposal of approximately $335 million, which he deemed insufficient because it combined two separate lawsuits. At that time, the judge had scheduled a preliminary court date for October 28 for the case to go to trial.
The newly agreed settlement of $375 million specifically addresses the claims raised in the Le case, while the second lawsuit, involving fighter Kajan Johnson, remains active in court. UFC expressed its satisfaction with the development, stating, “The decision is welcome news for both parties. We are pleased to be another step closer to bringing the Le case to a close.”
Eric Cramer, the lead attorney representing the plaintiffs, called the settlement a “monumental achievement” that will provide significant relief to hundreds of MMA fighters. He praised the bravery of the representative plaintiffs who have fought for this outcome over the past ten years. Cramer also indicated that they are looking forward to pursuing further business changes and damages in the ongoing lawsuit involving Johnson.
Had the antitrust trial proceeded, UFC could have faced potential liabilities of up to $1.6 billion in damages if found guilty. The lawsuits allege that UFC paid fighters substantially less than they deserved and maintained a monopoly over the mixed martial arts market. Collectively, the two cases represent about 2,000 fighters.
The lawsuit filed by Le in 2014 pertains to fighters who competed in the UFC from 2010 to 2017, while the Johnson case seeks to address fighters up to the present day and aims for permanent changes in UFC’s contractual and business practices.
The merger of UFC and WWE established the TKO Group, led by the global entertainment and sports giant Endeavor. In a related development, WWE settled its own antitrust lawsuit in December 2023, agreeing to pay $20 million to resolve claims that it monopolized the professional wrestling media market.
As the legal landscape evolves, the approval of this settlement signals a potential shift in how the UFC operates and compensates its fighters.
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