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The trial date has now been scheduled for early 2025 in the class action lawsuit brought against the UFC by MMA fighters. The athletes allege that the promotion has suppressed wages through coercive practices, a development that comes after an earlier proposed settlement was rejected this year. U.S. District Judge Richard F. Boulware II set the trial to commence on February 3rd following a Monday hearing.

UFC Fighters' $335M Wage Suit

The proposed settlement was initially reached in March wherein the fighters and parent company TKO Group Holdings would resolve claims accusing UFC of employing anti-competitive contracts and tactics designed to curb competition and decrease compensation. As part of the deal, UFC had consented to pay $335 million to settle allegations asserting fighter pay was reduced by up to $1.6 billion. However, in July the judge declined to approve the settlement during discussions the previous month where he expressed a desire for settlements providing "life-changing" rewards for athletes who have endured over a decade of litigation. Though Judge Boulware did not immediately reveal his rationale, he noted an explanation would soon follow. Despite this setback, sources say the parties remain open to settling before the 2025 trial date. The class action originally stemmed from several claims merged in 2015 against Zuffa LLC, UFC's former parent. The athletes argue that UFC business practices such as exclusive deals and dominance in MMA limited their leverage to negotiate higher wages and move freely within the market. Following the April 2023 merger between Endeavor Group Holdings and World Wrestling Entertainment forming TKO Group Holdings, Zuffa ceased being UFC's parent company. The fighters retain a team of prominent antitrust attorneys from firms like Berger Montague, Cohen Milstein Sellers & Toll, Joseph Saveri Law, Kemp Jones, Warner Angle Hallam Jackson & Formanek, and Clark Hill. UFC's legal counsel consists of representatives from Latham & Watkins, Paul Weiss Rifkind Wharton & Garrison, and Campbell & Williams. The cases are Le et al v. Zuffa LLC, case number 2:15-cv-01045, and Johnson et al v. Zuffa LLC et al., case number 2:21-cv-01189, in the U.S. District Court of Nevada.