In a court filing this week in the UFC antitrust lawsuit it was revealed that not a single eligible fighter asked to be removed from the lawsuit.
By way of context several fighters started a proposed class action against the UFC arguing they are operating an unlawful monopsony which economically exploits fighters. The lawsuit was certified last year expanding it from a handful of fighters to include over 1,200 fighters who competed in the promotion from 2010-2017.
Once certified a court approved plan was created to notify all these fighters and give them a chance to opt out, meaning to remove themselves from the lawsuit.
The court approved plan included sending them a letter via first class post telling them of their right to opt out and the deadline to do so, email notice, a media campaign, posted notice at 48 professional MMA gyms, and operating dedicated website and toll free hotline.
Despite these numerous notices not a single member opted out.
The Plaintiff’s confirmed this as below in a written filing with the federal court this week:
The UFC are asking the court to extend the opt out period for a technical reason, namely because since the notice was first posted the lawsuit was refined to only seek damages with injunctive relief being abandoned to be pursed in a second class action which has yet to be certified.
Whether this could make a difference has yet to be seen. However it does speak volumes that of over 1,200 fighters brought into a lawsuit not a single one chose to side with the UFC’s claims of fair business practices and remove themselves from the lawsuit.
Combat Sports Law 