The antitrust case against the Ultimate Fighting Championship (UFC) is moving forward in a significant way. Federal Judge Richard F. Boulware has granted class certification to the plaintiffs of the antitrust suit against the UFC. The lawsuit was first filed in late 2014, and it will now be considered a class action suit, allowing over 1,200 fighters to sue the UFC together. The class will encompass all fighters that competed for Zuffa from Dec. 16, 2010, to June 30, 2017. This specific “bout class” was certified, and not the “identity class,” opening the door for a case that will likely proceed for years.
Two Different Classes and Bout Class Certification
The two different classes broke down fighters into two, not mutually exclusive, groups. The “bout class” that was certified includes all fighters that competed in at least one UFC fight. As for the “identity class” that did not get certified, those members were potentially suing for exploitation of their identity including merchandizing and promotional items. As a result, one of the major members representing the class, Nate Quarry, will no longer be one of the plaintiffs named as suing the UFC. The others, including Cung Le and Jon Fitch, will still represent the “bout class” going forward.
Damages and Allegations
The plaintiffs are suing the UFC for damages, with a range of $811 million to upwards of $1.6 billion. Due to the case being related to antitrust regulations, the damages would be tripled by the court should the plaintiffs win the case. Additionally, future business dealings involving the UFC and its fighter contracts would also be significantly transformed if they prevail. The claims include that the UFC was an illegal monopoly or monopsony, which engaged in unlawful business practices that lowered overall fighter pay and harmed competitive organizations. Back in 2020, Judge Boulware indicated that he would grant the certification, and he officially approved it on Wednesday.
One of the attorneys representing the plaintiffs, Eric Cramer, posted on social media late Wednesday night celebrating the success, writing, “Thrilled to announce that the court in the UFC case has certified the class of [MMA] fighters. We look forward to demonstrating our allegations that the UFC has abused its market power to suppress fighter pay before a jury in Las Vegas. The fight for fighter justice continues!”
In the order obtained by Bloody Elbow, Judge Boulware noted that the UFC had “willfully engaged in anticompetitive conduct to maintain or increase their market power.” It did so in multiple ways, including “through the enforcement of exclusionary contracts” and “through extracontractual methods to make fighter contract effective perpetual” as well as “through acquisition and shutting down of rivals.” The case will proceed via a status conference on Aug. 21. According to a statement provided to ESPN by the UFC’s chief counsel, William A. Isaacson, the UFC is preparing to file an appeal of this decision.