Landmark Class Action - Fighters Take on UFC in Multi-Billion Dollar Legal Battle

"The UFC pays its fighters only 20% of its event revenues, when boxing and other major sports pay well above 50%"

Eric Cramer, chairman of Berger Montague

A U.S. judge in Nevada has granted class-action status to a group of over 1,200 martial arts fighters who are suing the Ultimate Fighting Championship (UFC) for alleged wage suppression. The fighters claim that UFC's parent company, Zuffa, utilized its market dominance to hinder competitors and enforced exclusive contracts to retain fighters within the organization. The lawsuit asserts that the UFC paid fighters only 20% of its event revenues, significantly lower than the compensation provided in other major sports like boxing. The damages sought in the class-action suit range between $811 million and $1.6 billion. The court ruling allows the case to move forward, while the UFC plans to challenge the certification order through an appeal. The court has also scheduled a status conference for August 21, with no trial date currently set.

"This is just one step in a long legal process"

Isaacson, who called the lawsuit "legally and factually meritless."

Summarized from Reuters.