The UFC ordered to pay multimillion-dollar compensation after fighters win legal battle

A major legal battle that’s been brewing since 2014 has finally reached its climax. The UFC, the world’s leading mixed martial arts promotion, has agreed to a $375 million settlement following a class-action lawsuit filed by more than a thousand current and former fighters.

The suit accused the organization—under its former parent company Zuffa, now part of TKO Holdings—of monopolistic and anti-competitive practices that allegedly spanned from 2010 to 2017.

The allegations: contracts, threats, and market domination

According to court filings, fighters claimed the UFC used restrictive contracts to lock athletes into exclusive deals, limiting their ability to negotiate with rival promotions.

The lawsuit also described a culture of intimidation toward fighters who considered competing elsewhere. Strategic acquisitions of rival organizations like Pride FC, WEC, and Strikeforce further consolidated UFC’s dominance, leaving fighters with fewer options and less bargaining power.

The case covers fighters who were under UFC contract between December 2010 and June 2017—a period during which the promotion cemented its status as the global powerhouse of MMA.

Settlement breakdown: who gets what

In February, US District Judge Richard Boulware approved the $375 million payout. Of that, $126 million will go toward legal fees, while the remaining $251 million will be distributed among 1,067 fighters. The lowest payout is set at $16,138.45, with the average compensation per fighter is around $250,000. A select group of 35 fighters will receive over $1 million each.

Anderson Silva tops UFC payout list

According to MMA journalist John S. Nash, Brazilian legend Anderson “The Spider” Silva stands to gain the most from the settlement—an estimated $10.33 million. Silva was part of the UFC roster throughout the period covered by the lawsuit, which automatically included him in the class-action group. He now faces a personal decision: accept the payout or opt out.

This automatically included him in the plaintiffs’ group, without having to file an individual claim for compensation. Therefore, Silva himself must decide whether to accept the sum of money owed to him in the settlement or waive it.

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