A new filing in the UFC antitrust lawsuit shows 51 fighters, including former champions, supporting a $375 million settlement to address serious injuries and financial hardships caused by their fighting careers, urging the judge to approve it for immediate relief.
A fresh twist in the UFC antitrust lawsuit has emerged, revealing that 51 fighters have penned letters backing a proposed settlement. This move aims to conclude a legal battle that has spanned over a decade.
Back in September, the UFC struck a $375 million deal with plaintiffs to end the original lawsuit initiated by fighters like Cung Le in 2014. Previously, a $335 million settlement covering fighters from 2010 to 2017 and another for those from 2017 onwards was shot down by Judge Richard Boulware in July.
The plaintiffs returned to negotiations, crafting a new $375 million agreement focused solely on fighters from 2010 to 2017. In an additional filing, 56 fighters urged the judge to green-light this settlement, seeking quicker financial relief than drawn-out trials and appeals would allow.
Now, the latest filing includes 51 more fighters—some former UFC champions—pleading for approval. Their letters describe severe injuries, from brain damage to broken necks, hoping the settlement funds will offer immediate aid.
“While fighting for the UFC, I suffered many concussions,” wrote ex-UFC heavyweight champ Fabricio Werdum. “I fear traumatic brain injury (TBI) and notice symptoms like irritability, anger, anxiety, insomnia, and memory loss. A cyst in my brain complicates matters further.”
Werdum emphasized how transformative this money could be for him and others, even allowing his family to finish building their home in Brazil.
Competing mainly between 2012 and 2020, Werdum also fought in PFL and made an appearance with Gamebred Fighting Championship as recently as 2023.
Miguel Torres shared his own struggles with brain damage after joining the UFC when WEC fighters were absorbed into the organization.
Torres claimed he was coerced into fighting by UFC CEO Dana White despite being injured, exacerbating his condition.
“Throughout my MMA career with UFC, I endured significant injuries: torn ACL/MCL in my right knee, self-set broken hands and fingers, torn ankle ligaments taped up, cracked ribs, infected staph elbow bursa,” Torres recounted. “Dana White pressured me into a fight against Joseph Benavidez despite being unfit.”
“That fight left me needing stitches and surgery for a forehead gash. No insurance throughout my career meant I feared TBI symptoms like anxiety and mood swings.”
Torres explained how settlement money would ease financial burdens and help support his family.
“This would truly be life-changing money for me and other class members,” Torres said. “It’ll help clear debts from my gym and provide for my three kids.”
Kyle Kingsbury, a key figure in the original lawsuit against UFC, detailed his own severe injuries—highlighting a broken neck incident—and shared fears of contract termination if he refused fights.
“Fighting with UFC brought numerous injuries: broken neck, knee tears, shoulder labrum tear, orbital fractures,” Kingsbury noted. “I fought Jimi Manuwa with a broken neck due to contract fears.”
Kingsbury’s career inflicted lasting damage: memory loss, chronic pain. Without insurance, healthcare costs strain his finances; basic needs are challenging to meet.
Bethe Correia highlighted her battles with eye injuries leading to permanent vision loss while fighting for UFC.
“Retinal dislocation in both eyes causes extreme pain,” Correia stated. “Three surgeries later, vision is poor; life’s basics are hard without stable income post-UFC.”
Correia emphasized how settlement funds could stabilize her life by addressing medical needs and aiding post-career transition challenges.
Current fighters like Yair Rodriguez and Rani Yahya joined seasoned veterans such as Thiago Alves and Lyoto Machida in sharing their stories through these testimonials.
These personal accounts await the court’s decision on whether this iteration of the settlement will gain approval or face another round of negotiations or trial preparation.
In earlier filings, attorneys mentioned that after all fees and costs are deducted from the $375 million settlement pool, each fighter stands to recover around $250,000 on average.
There’s no telling when the judge will decide on this settlement agreement. If denied again? More talks or trial prep could be on the horizon.