August 9, 2023
- Antitrust lawsuit seeks up to $1.6 billion in damages
- Class consists of more than 1,200 current and former UFC fighters
A U.S. judge in Nevada on Wednesday said a group of martial arts fighters suing the Ultimate Fighting Championship for alleged suppression of their wages can move forward as a class action seeking damages estimated at between $811 million and $1.6 billion.
U.S. District Judge Richard Boulware’s decision grants class-action status to more than 1,200 fighters who competed in live professional UFC-promoted mixed martial arts bouts in the U.S. between December 2010 and June 2017.
The plaintiffs contend Nevada-based Zuffa, which does business as the UFC, abused its market power to acquire or block rival promoters and used exclusive contracts to keep fighters within the UFC. The plaintiffs alleged the UFC suppressed fighters’ bout compensation.
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For the class: Eric Cramer of Berger Montague; Benjamin Brown of Cohen Milstein Sellers & Toll; and Joseph Saveri of Joseph Saveri Law Firm
Read Martial Arts Fighters’ Wage Lawsuit Against UFC Can Proceed as Class Action.