August 21, 2024
A trial has been set for February in the class action brought by mixed martial arts fighters who accused Ultimate Fighting Championship of suppressing their wages, a move that comes after a Nevada federal judge rejected the parties’ settlement agreement in March, Law360 learned Tuesday.
Sources familiar with the matter said that following a hearing on Monday, U.S. District Judge Richard F. Boulware II scheduled the trial to begin Feb. 3. In the meantime, one source said, it is still possible that the parties will reach a settlement ahead of the 2025 trial.
The fighters agreed to an initial deal in March with UFC parent company TKO Group Holdings Inc. over their claims that the promoter used coercive contracts and other tactics to eliminate competition from rivals. They alleged the organization suppressed professional fighters’ wages by as much as $1.6 billion.
As part of the settlement, UFC agreed to pay $335 million to settle the claims. In an unusual move, Judge Boulware rejected the settlement at the end of July, telling the parties at the time that he would explain his reasoning for the decision later. The judge had previously expressed during a settlement hearing in June that he wanted to see “life-changing” money for the fighters who have gone through 10 years of litigation.
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The fighters are represented by Eric L. Cramer, Michael Dell’Angelo, Ellen T. Noteware, Patrick F. Madden, Najah A. Jacobs and Joshua P. Davis of Berger Montague, Richard A. Koffman, Benjamin D. Brown, Daniel H. Silverman and Daniel Gifford of Cohen Milstein Sellers & Toll PLLC, Joseph R. Saveri, Kevin E. Rayhill, Christopher K.L. Young and Itak Moradi of Joseph Saveri Law Firm LLP, Don Springmeyer of Kemp Jones LLP, Robert C. Maysey and Jerome K. Elwell of Warner Angle Hallam Jackson & Formanek PLC, and Crane Pomerantz of Clark Hill PLC.