The UFC’s attempt to overturn the ongoing anti-trust case against them suffered a setback as their appeal request was denied by judges from the 9th Circuit Court, potentially exposing the promotion to significant legal damages.
The UFC’s attempt to overturn the ongoing anti-trust case against them has hit a roadblock, as two judges from the 9th Circuit Court denied the promotion’s appeal request. Their goal was to reverse a Nevada federal judge’s decision to certify a group of fighters suing the UFC as a class. This ruling is significant because it could potentially expose the promotion to greater legal damages related to their business practices. Led by fighters Cung Le, Jon Fitch, Kyle Kingsbury, and others, the plaintiffs accuse the UFC of suppressing fighter pay and employing anti-competitive tactics to control the market for elite MMA fighters.
The potential legal consequences for the UFC are substantial, with estimated damages ranging from $800 million to $1.6 billion. These numbers take into account the 1,200 potential plaintiffs who claim the anti-competitive conduct occurred between 2010 and 2017, the period covered by the first of two anti-trust lawsuits filed against the promotion. Another lawsuit, spearheaded by fighter Kajan Johnson, covers the period after 2017 and is currently in the discovery phase.
Although the UFC still has the option to appeal the final result of the first case, there is one more hurdle to overcome before the trial takes place in April. According to an individual familiar with the matter, the promotion is seeking to reopen discovery in the initial lawsuit, arguing that recent changes to their business practices are relevant to the charges stemming from the 2010-2017 timeframe. This legal maneuver suggests that the UFC believes newer information could potentially impact the outcome of the case.
In summary, the UFC’s appeal to overturn the anti-trust case against them has been denied by the 9th Circuit Court, impeding their efforts to challenge the class-action status granted to the suing fighters. With potential damages totaling in the hundreds of millions or even billions of dollars, the promotion now faces an uphill battle in defending itself against allegations of anti-competitive behavior. The possibility of reopening discovery indicates that the UFC is seeking to introduce more recent evidence that could affect the charges levied against them. Ultimately, the outcome of this legal battle remains uncertain as the case proceeds towards trial.