UFC, Fighters Close on £281M Settlement with Judge’s Approval

A judge has granted preliminarily approval on the UFC’s £281 million settlement in one of two legal cases in the United States affecting hundreds of its former fighters.

The group of former fighters claimed the UFC’s contracts suppressed athletes’ abilities to negotiate other promotional options.

TKO Group, who own the UFC and WWE, had one Settlement rejected but the latest agreement struck in September has been approved by judge Richard Boulware.

The lawsuit was in 2014 and covered fighters competing in the UFC from 2010 to 2017.

The UFC described the decision as “welcome news for both parties” while Eric Cramer, lead attorney for the plaintiffs – the fighters – said they were “extremely pleased”.

A second case, Johnson versus Zuffa, remains in court.

That lawsuit covers fighters up to the present day and seeks permanent changes to UFC contract and business practises.