With the UFC (via parent TKO Group and its attorneys) and lawyers for the plaintiffs in an ongoing class action lawsuit against the promotion coming to an agreement for a settlement, numerous former fighters have filed letters of support urging the settlement be upheld.
U.S. District Court Judge Richard Boulware has yet to rule on the on the most recent settlement agreement, after denying a previous attempt by all parties involved to settle the matter prior to trial. This second settlement agreement covers only one of two ongoing legal actions against the UFC, a class action lawsuit launched by fighters Cung Le, Nate Quarry, and Jon Fitch, while the second suit, with Kajan Johnson and C.B. Dolloway behind it, will now be handled separately.
The latest agreement stands at a value of $375 million dollars, and covers fighters who competed for the UFC between 2010 and 2017 (the Johnson/Dolloway suit covers fighters who competed for the UFC from 2017 onward). In total, over 50 former UFC fighters have issued letters of support in favor of the latest settlement offer.
The letters came to light as plaintiffs in the case filed a Motion for Preliminary Approval of the Settlement in U.S. District Court in Nevada on October 7. Excerpts from the letters made their way to social media care of journalist John S. Nash.
Names you would expect to see are present, including Cung Le, one of the fighters who first sued the promotion, and Spencer Fisher, whose health struggles related to fighting have been well-documented. Others come as more of a surprise.
Former UFC heavyweight Shane Carwin, who faced Brock Lesnar in a title fight in 2010 and retired with a 12-2 record as a pro following a second loss to Junior Dos Santos the following year, wrote that “despite having a degree in engineering from the Colorado School of Mines, I have been unable to maintain adequate focus to hold down an engineering job. I face serious challenges in meeting basic everyday expenses for food, shelter, and transportation and in basic life skills necessary to function.”
Fernando Bruno, who went 0-2 in the UFC from 2015 to 2016, stated that “while fighting for the UFC, I suffered a significant injury to my knee during a bout that was never fixed. My knee and leg are still crooked and do not have full range of motion, and it causes incredible and debilitating pain. My insurance does not cover pre-existing injuries, and I desperately needs (sic) these funds to alleviate unbearable pain I live with daily.”
Bruno now lives in China, but is supporting a daughter at home in Brazil.
Perhaps the most depressing statement aside from that of Fisher, who has been unable to work due to injuries sustained during his fighting career, came from UFC legend Wanderlei Silva.
“While fighting for the UFC, I suffered many significant injuries, including concussions. I fear that during my career I have suffered traumatic brain injury (TBI) and am noticing symptoms common with TBI and CTE including depression, mood swings, and irritability,” a statement attributed to Silva reads. “I suffer from sleep apnea and have difficult sleeping and breathing. That I can recall, I have had four surgeries on my nose, one on my face, two on my left knee, one on my right knee and one on my elbow… these funds would also allow me to obtain the healthcare I need to keep a roof over my head and food on my table. The sad reality is that funds years from now may be of no use to me.”
Among the concerns the judge will have to address is whether the settlement, which despite being in the hundreds of millions is still a fraction of what the plaintiffs could be awarded at trial, adequately compensates them for the damages claimed. A trial date of February 3, 2025 is currently set should the settlement fall through.
