Summary: A class action suit should soon be prepared on behalf of a group of MMA fighters against UFC.
According to Bloody Elbow, many MMA fighters are gearing up for a different kind of fight—one in the courtroom. A class action lawsuit is expected to be filed in the near future.
Earlier this year, Apple was involved in an antitrust lawsuit.
Apparently, the suit is based on accusations that the UFC violated antitrust laws. The suit will claim that the UFC abused “market power” to intentionally and systematically hinder the free market. Some have compared it to NCAA antitrust cases and San Jose hi-tech employee cases. One manager, who did not want his identity revealed, said that the class will be asking for damages for up to hundreds of millions of dollars due to reduced fight purses, video games rights, and other income. Since statutes award “treble damages,” the damages could ultimately be tripled in this case.
A class action was also filed against Sephora for discrimination claims.
Another manager called the suit a “game changer.” It is believed that three or four well-known antitrust firms will be handling the case on behalf of the fighters. These firms have taken on the pharmaceutical, banking, technology, and credit industries in the past, and have won. A former fighter commented, “These are major players. These are not people [the UFC] will be able to out-spend.”
Read more about antitrust law here.
Photo credit: media.ufc.tv