Judge Richard Boulware Rejects UFC's $335M Settlement in Antitrust Case, Jury Trial Set for October

Jul 31, 2024, 05:00 PM

A Nevada federal judge has rejected a proposed $335 million settlement in the UFC antitrust class action lawsuit involving fighters from 2012 to 2017. The trial date has been set for October 28, 2024, where the case will be determined by a jury. Judge Richard Boulware denied the settlement, stating that the proposed resolution did not meet the necessary criteria. The plaintiffs, led by fighters Cung Le and Kajan Johnson, accused the UFC of artificially suppressing wages. The court's decision has prompted the UFC and its parent company, TKO Group Holdings, to evaluate their options, including a possible appeal. A status conference is scheduled for August 19, 2024. The market reacted quickly to the news, and the UFC has issued a statement expressing disagreement with the ruling. Damages in the trial could exceed $1 billion. Notably, UFC attorney Bill Isaacson had previously believed the settlement was assured.