Led by Le, Fitch and Quarry, group confirms lawsuit against UFC for monopoly

Fitch, Quarry and Le are the leaders of the action against the UFC. Photo: MMA Press Production (Disclosure/UFC)

The group that is filing a major lawsuit against the UFC released more details of the action this Tuesday (16), in a conference call with the participation of members of the press.

The action, which accuses Ultimate of monopolistic practices in recent years, is led by three fighters: Cung le, the only one still with ties to the UFC, Jon Fitch, current WSOF fighter, and Nate Quarry, former fighter and participant in the first season of The Ultimate Fighter. Additionally, former welterweight champion Carlos Newton also lent support to the movement.

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The group claims that the UFC has gradually turned the international MMA scene into a true monopoly. “The lawsuit alleges that the UFC’s attitudes, especially in recent years, have caused them to become the only option for fighters who want to lead a viable life in the profession,” says the manifesto. “The UFC prevents fighters from working with other MMA promoters, carrying out their own promotional actions and signing with other sponsors – these are monopolistic attitudes that suppress fighters’ earnings.”

Thus, the objective of action is “to correct what is wrong, to change the status quo and introduce healthy competition into the environment.”

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One of the examples cited by members of the process involves the former PRIDE champion Fedor Emelianenko. When the Russian refused to sign with the UFC, the North American organization reportedly demanded that the clothing brand TapOut withdraw a million-dollar sponsorship offer to Emelianenko – otherwise the company would lose access to UFC events.

Also mentioned is the fact that the UFC acquires and closes down the activities of potential competing organizations, as happened with WEC, WFA and Strikeforce. “Nowadays, the only option for elite MMA fighters is the UFC. The reason for this is that the UFC systematically closed down all of its competitors,” he says.

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The low payment given to athletes also motivated the action. “All UFC fighters receive a mere fraction of what would happen in a competitive market. Instead of there being payments comparable to what you see in boxing – a sport that has many parallels with MMA – fighters receive less than they should, despite the punitive nature of their profession”, explained Benjamin Brown, one of the lawyers for the prosecution.

Nate Quarry stated that, although only a few fighters were participating in the process, several other athletes who preferred anonymity expressed support. The case, officially called Cung le et al. versus Zuffa and UFC, opened at 12:45 pm this Tuesday, in San Jose, in the US state of California.

The process has the support of four large law firms specializing in this type of matter: Joseph Saveri Law Firm, Cohen Milstein & Toll PLLC, Berger & Montague and Warner Angle Hallam Jackson & Formanek PLC. To give you an idea of the magnitude of the offices, the first won a similar million-dollar lawsuit in April this year against Google, Apple, Adobe and Intel; The second defeated, in May 2013, the chemical products company Dow Chemical in an action whose values exceed US$ 1 billion.

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The indictment avoided mentioning the required values – only mentioning that it should be something “substantial”, which will be calculated by economists. However, Robert Maysey, a consultant for the prosecution and an expert in sports law, said that cases of this magnitude take three to five years to resolve.

UFC responds to the controversy succinctly

In an official note released to the press moments after the process was announced, the UFC briefly commented on the matter. In a short text published on its website, the organization avoided detailing what actions it will take, but assured that it will do everything to defend itself against the accusations.

“The UFC is aware of the action filed today, but has not yet received or even had the opportunity to review the document. The UFC will vigorously defend itself, as well as the business practices used”, says the note.