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.
