February 7, 2025
A Nevada federal judge granted final approval Thursday to a $375 million settlement in a more than a decade-long class action lawsuit in which fighters accused UFC of suppressing their wages, according to a lead attorney on the case.
The plaintiffs filed a memo Jan. 30 seeking final approval of the settlement for a class of more than 1,100 former UFC fighters. This deal resolves the antitrust lawsuit filed by fighter Cung Le in 2014, but leaves the organization facing down similar accusations in a lawsuit filed by Kajan Johnson in 2021.
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As part of the settlement, 35 fighters will get the highest payout of more than $1 million and around 100 will receive more than $500,000, Cramer said. The remaining fighters will net approximately $50,000 to more than $250,000.
The parties initially reached a $335 million settlement in March, which included both the Le and Johnson lawsuits, but it was rejected through a July 30 minute order. U.S. District Judge Richard F. Boulware II expressed doubts about the settlement during a hearing in June, conveying concern about the dollar figure and that it would resolve lawsuits at different points in the legal process. He said he wanted to see “life changing” money for the fighters, who have gone through 10 years of litigation.
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The fighters are represented by Eric L. Cramer, Michael Dell’Angelo, Ellen T. Noteware, Patrick F. Madden, Najah A. Jacobs and Joshua P. Davis of Berger Montague, Richard A. Koffman, Benjamin D. Brown, Daniel H. Silverman and Daniel Gifford of Cohen Milstein Sellers & Toll PLLC, Joseph R. Saveri, Kevin E. Rayhill, Christopher K.L. Young and Itak Moradi of Joseph Saveri Law Firm LLP, Don Springmeyer of Kemp Jones LLP, Robert C. Maysey and Jerome K. Elwell of Warner Angle Hallam Jackson & Formanek PLC, and Crane Pomerantz of Clark Hill PLC.