Former UFC fighters are taking legal action against the Ultimate Fighting Championship in a landmark lawsuit. The lawsuit alleges that the UFC’s practices restrict athletes and suppress their earning potential. Learn more about this high-stakes antitrust suit and the fight for fair pay in combat sports.
| Date | Event |
|---|---|
| March 31, 2010 | Nate Quarry’s career highlight in UFC’s Fight Night 21 ended in retirement and a shattered face |
| Present | Quarry and 1,200 former UFC fighters won class action status in an antitrust suit against the UFC |
| Next spring | Trial for the lawsuit is fast-tracked |
| Sports world | Lawsuit is part of a larger movement by athletes fighting for better pay and working conditions |
Former UFC Fighters Take on the Ultimate Fighting Championship
On March 31, 2010, middleweight Nate “Rock” Quarry appeared on the main card in UFC’s Fight Night 21, a career highlight that ended quickly, shattered the left side of his face, and sent him into retirement. Now 51, well past his prime mixed-martial-arts days, Quarry said he remains tethered to the Ultimate Fighting Championship in a contract that would never let him see free agency. Quarry and about 1,200 other men and women who formerly fought for UFC won class action status last month in a high-stakes antitrust suit against the Las Vegas-based combat fighting powerhouse, accusing it of confining athletes to a cycle of successive contracts and paying them far less than they would have received in a competitive market.
The case—which has been fast-tracked for trial next spring—is being closely watched in the sports world and is among a flurry in the legal pipeline on behalf of athletes, from college students to professional wrestlers, using antitrust law and the nation’s courts to fight for better pay.
The UFC’s Grip on Fighters
In the world of mixed martial arts, the Ultimate Fighting Championship (UFC) holds a dominant position. Fighters who sign with the UFC are often tied to the organization through a series of contracts, preventing them from seeking opportunities elsewhere. This has led to accusations that the UFC is exploiting its fighters and paying them significantly less than they would earn in a competitive market.
A Landmark Lawsuit
Nate “Rock” Quarry, a former UFC middleweight fighter, is among the 1,200 fighters who have taken legal action against the UFC. They have been granted class action status in an antitrust lawsuit that alleges the UFC’s practices restrict athletes and suppress their earning potential. The case has garnered significant attention and is scheduled for trial next spring.
Fighting for Fair Pay
The lawsuit filed by former UFC fighters is part of a larger movement by athletes across various sports to fight for better pay and working conditions. Antitrust law is being utilized to challenge the practices of organizations like the UFC, with athletes seeking to break free from restrictive contracts and secure fair compensation.
