The long-running UFC anti-trust settlement has officially reached its final stage, with fighters set to start receiving payments from the massive $375 million agreement.
Judge Richard Boulware officially approved the distribution of funds on Oct. 3. Payments to fighters could begin as early as this week.
This settlement stems from the original UFC anti-trust lawsuit filed back in 2014 by fighters including Cung Le and Nathan Quarry. As the case moved closer to trial, both sides ultimately agreed to settle for $375 million.
Judge Boulware’s order granted “final approval of the settlement,” resolving all claims against the UFC in exchange for the payout, now referred to as the Le v. Zuffa Settlement Fund.
The settlement covers athletes who competed in the UFC between 2010 and 2017. Fighters were required to submit claims, and according to Berger Montague, the law firm representing them, over 97% of roughly 1,100 eligible fighters filed successfully.
In a rare exception, the judge allowed one late submission to be included in the payout. Fighters receiving funds now have 90 days to cash their checks before they’re voided.
Attorneys involved in the UFC anti-trust settlement were also granted additional funds to cover potential future expenses, taxes, and other unforeseen costs.
Based on estimates, the average payout per fighter stands around $250,000. About 35 fighters are expected to receive more than $1 million each, while nearly 100 will get over $500,000.
While this marks closure for fighters who competed between 2010 and 2017, the legal battle over UFC’s business practices isn’t over yet. A separate UFC anti-trust lawsuit, led by athletes like Kajan Johnson, covers fighters from 2017 to the present. That case seeks both damages and structural changes to how the UFC operates.
In addition, newer antitrust suits led by Misha Cirkunov and Phil Davis are challenging UFC contracts that include arbitration clauses and class action waivers. The Phil Davis case, in particular, seeks only injunctive relief aimed at changing how the promotion conducts its business moving forward.
