UFC fighters to receive up to $1m in settlement payout

Fighters are set to receive compensation payments ranging from $100,000 to more than $1m from the UFC’s antitrust lawsuit settlement, according to the law firm handling the case.

In October, the UFC agreed to pay £281m to former fighters who competed in the MMA promotion between 2010 and 2017.

The lawsuit claimed the UFC suppressed athletes’ ability to negotiate other promotional options and estimated 1,100 fighters were affected.

Of that total figure, 97% of them have applied to receive funds from the settlement, Berger Montague announced.

“It is anticipated that 35 fighters would net over $1m (£727,755); nearly 100 fighters would net over $500,000 (£364,000); more than 200 fighters would recover over $250,000 (£182,000); and over 500 fighters would net in excess of $100,000 (£73,000),” a statement said., external

The UFC are in the midst of another antitrust lawsuit, Johnson v. Zuffa, led by more of their former athletes.

Fighters from 2017 to the present day are seeking damages and a change to the UFC’s business practices, including the contracts they insist on.

The antitrust lawsuits had sought up to $1.6bn (£1.25bn) in damages.

ALSO READ: UFC star Adesanya visits Osun, to be honoured by kinsmen

The UFC merged with the WWE (World Wrestling Entertainment) in 2023 to form the TKO Group.

The UFC’s international fight week is currently underway in Las Vegas, with Ilia Topuria fighting Charles Oliveira for the UFC lightweight title at the T-Mobile Arena.

Topuria, who was champion at featherweight, headlines alongside Oliveira, while in the co-main event Alexandre Pantoja defends his flyweight title against Kai Kara-France.

(BBC Sport)