Payouts from the initial $375 million settlement in the long-running UFC antitrust lawsuit are expected to begin in the near future. This lawsuit, first filed in 2014, covers fighters who competed for the promotion between 2010 and 2017.
The settlement, which received approval from Judge Richard Boulware in February, saw a remarkably high participation rate. Berger Montague, the law firm representing the class of fighters, recently announced that over 97 percent of the approximately 1100 eligible class members submitted timely claims to receive funds.
This high level of engagement accounts for an estimated 99 percent of the total compensation earned by these UFC fighters during the relevant period.
While the specific amount each fighter receives will vary based on individual circumstances, the law firm revealed that the average payout is approximately $250,000.
Further details on the expected distribution indicate that roughly 35 fighters are projected to net over $1 million from the settlement. Nearly 100 fighters could receive over $500,000, more than 200 are anticipated to recover over $250,000, and over 500 are expected to net in excess of $100,000.
Eric Cramer, the lead attorney for the fighters, described these claim rates as “unprecedented in class action litigation.” He expressed immense satisfaction with the participation level following a decade-long effort for “economic justice” for the athletes. Berger Montague highlighted their pride in the results and the “near universal participation” from fighters globally, including from the U.S., Brazil, Canada, Japan, Russia, Latin America, and other nations.
It`s important to note that this settlement specifically addresses the 2010-2017 period. Other antitrust lawsuits against the UFC are still moving through the courts. One lawsuit, led by athletes like Kajan Johnson, covers the period from 2017 to the present and seeks both monetary damages and injunctive relief, aiming to potentially change how the UFC conducts its business.
Additional antitrust cases have been filed more recently by fighters such as Misha Cirkunov, focusing on issues like arbitration clauses, and Phil Davis, centered on numerous potential changes to current UFC contracts and operational practices. The lawsuit led by Phil Davis is particularly notable as it is seeking *only* injunctive relief, not financial damages.
Phil Davis explained his motivation for stepping forward, stating that he believes the current structure unfairly inhibits his ability, and that of others, to fight the best competitors outside the UFC—which he considers a “real miscarriage of justice.” He emphasized that his involvement is not driven by a desire for personal financial compensation but by the goal of ensuring all fighters at the elite level have the opportunity to face the best in the world.
Although an exact date for the dispersal of the initial $375 million settlement funds has not yet been finalized, it is expected that payouts will begin within the next few months.
