TKO settles UFC fighters' lawsuit for $335M

TKO Group will pay $335M to "resolve the class action" from UFC fighters, with the settlement, reached on March 13, "paid in installments." At the center of the case was allegations that UFC "used longterm, exclusive contracts to substantially delay, or in some cases, totally prevent free-agency; coerced fighters into re-signing deals; and acquired or closed down multiple competing MMA promoters in violation of antitrust laws." A trial expected to last four weeks was scheduled to start on April 15, with damages pegged at roughly $1.6B. A securities filing from TKO "doesn’t mention injunctive relief," which "could leave long-term exclusive and 'right-to-match' contracts, which prevent fighters from negotiating higher pay from rival promoters, on the table" (HOLLYWOOD REPORTER, 3/20). TKO's stock was trading at $87.27 at the time of publishing.