In a stunning development, the judge overseeing the UFC’s class action antitrust case has rejected a settlement agreed to by both sides, ordering the matter to trial.
Judge Richard Boulware ruled Tuesday that the case would be heard by a jury, setting a tentative trial date of October 28. That ruling covers two separate but related class periods stemming from lawsuits launched by former UFC fighters Cung Le, Nate Quarry, and Jon Fitch in one case, and Kajan Johnson in a second.
The suit alleges the UFC conspired to keep fighter pay down, utilizing anti-competitive tactics and abusing its status as a monsopony in MMA.
The UFC and attorneys for all parties had agreed to a settlement of $335 million, which would have seen approximately 1100 UFC fighters covered by the class period entitled to upwards of $70,000 in compensation, with some receiving as much as a million.
Judge Boulware, however, had concerns with the settlement, particularly with what he saw as a low dollar amount set to be received by fighters, in comparison to over $1.5 billion being on the table should they win at trial. He also pointed to the second case apparently being the weaker of the two, unable to survive on its own merits without the first. Fighters in the Johnson period also signed contracts with class action waiver provisions.
In June, he put that settlement on hold, pending further review. An August 19 date for a status conference has been set, at which time trial dates will be finalized.
