Damon Martin is a veteran journalist and insider covering combat sports since 2003.
A new filing in the UFC antitrust lawsuit revealed statements from 51 fighters writing letters of support for the proposed settlement that would bring the decade-long case to a close.
Back in September, the UFC reached an agreement with the plaintiffs on a $375 million settlement to end the original antitrust lawsuit that was first filed by fighters such as Cung Le in 2014. An initial settlement for $335 million for both the original lawsuit covering fighters from 2010 to 2017 and a second lawsuit for fighters from 2017 to the present was rejected by Judge Richard Boulware in July.
The plaintiffs in the case went back to the negotiating table to reach terms on the new settlement agreement for $375 million that only covers the fighters from 2010 to 2017. In a separate filing, 56 fighters wrote letters urging the judge to approve the new settlement agreement to allow them some financial relief, which would be paid out much sooner than the case actually going to trial and then potentially getting tied up in appeals for several years.
The newest filing features 51 more fighters, including several ex-UFC champions, asking the judge to approve the settlement. In the letters, athletes detailed everything from brain damage to a broken neck and numerous other serious injuries suffered from fighting with hopes that money paid out from the settlement would help them immediately.
"While fighting for the UFC, I suffered many concussions," ex-UFC heavyweight champion Fabricio Werdum wrote in his statement. "I fear that during my career I have suffered traumatic brain injury (TBI) and am noticing symptoms common with TBI and CTE (chronic traumatic encephalopathy) including irritability, anger, anxiety, insomnia and memory loss. I have many lesions and scarring in my brain, and I have a cyst that is located centrally within my brain making surgery thus far impossible. I monitor this cyst with biannual exams to determine if it is growing. To date, no treatment for CTE has been found.
"This would truly be life-changing money for me and for other members of the class. These funds would also allow me and my family to finish construction on our home in Brazil."
Werdum, who primarily competed in the UFC between 2012 and 2020, went onto fight in the PFL and had one bout with Gamebred Fighting Championship with his last appearance coming in 2023.
Miguel Torres, who joined the UFC roster after the fighters from the WEC were folded into the organization, also detailed issues with brain damage from his career.
In the statement, Torres also claimed he was pressured into a fight by UFC CEO Dana White when he was injured, which then resulted in him suffering even more injuries.
"While fighting for the UFC, and during my MMA career, I suffered many significant injuries including a torn ACL and MCL in my right knee, a broken right hand which I set myself, a broken left hand which I set myself, broken fingers, broken toes, torn ligaments in my ankle which I taped, a cracked rib, a torn bursa in my elbow which punctured the skin and after being drained multiple times, became infected with staph, and multiple concussions," Torres wrote. "After I tore my bursa in my elbow and became infected with staph, I was pressured by Dana White to take a fight against Joseph Benavidez with a title shot on the line despite not being able to use my right arm, train cardio, or spar for two months.
"During that Benavidez fight, my forehead was split open requiring 15 stitches that night to close the gash and additional surgery to properly repair it. For the entire duration of my fighting career, I did not have insurance. I fear that during my career I have suffered traumatic brain injury (TBI) and am noticing symptoms common with TBI including anxiety, depression, irritability, occasional headaches, insomnia, sensitivity to light, quick to anger, and mood swings."
Torres explained how money from the settlement would provide him financial relief, and the continued ability to support his family.
"This would truly be life-changing money for me and for other members of the class," Torres said. "The funds received from this settlement will allow me to pay off debt incurred on my gym Torres Martial Arts Academy and to provide for my three children."
Kyle Kingsbury, who was one of the primary members of the original antitrust lawsuit against the UFC, detailed his own serious injuries including when he claims he fought with a broken neck. He also added that he often competed injured out of fear that he would be released from his contract if he turned down a fight.
"While fighting for the UFC, I suffered a number of significant injuries, including a broken neck, tears in both knees, torn right shoulder labrum, two left eye orbital fractures, and numerous concussions," Kingsbury said. "Eight days before my first fight in the UFC, I separated a rib in training. Nevertheless, I went ahead with the fight, because I feared the UFC would terminate my contract if I backed out. I also fought Jimi Manuwa in 2012 with a broken neck. I was coming off consecutive losses, and I feared that I would be cut if I didn't go ahead with the fight. I lost that fight and suffered a broken orbital bone in the process.
"My fighting career took a serious toll on my body. To this day, I suffer from memory loss, chronic neck pain, and chronic knee pain. My current healthcare expenses are a real strain on my budget. At present, I cannot afford health insurance and must pay out of pocket for all of my health care needs. I also am forced to postpone or forgo treatments that I need but cannot afford. In addition to healthcare expenses, I periodically face serious challenges in meeting basic everyday expenses for food, shelter, and transportation."
Former UFC title challenger Bethe Correia detailed her injuries, which included damage to her eye that is causing permanent vision loss.
"While fighting for the UFC, I suffered many significant injuries including retinal dislocation in both eyes which causes pressure and extreme pain," Correia stated. "To date I have had three eye surgeries, two on my left eye and one on my right eye. I am losing central vision in my left eye. I often see dots out of my right eye, and my vision is overall poor and diminishing. Due to my decreasing vision and struggle obtaining basic necessities in day-to-day life, I have found attending school to be increasingly difficult.
"This would truly be life-changing money for me and for other members of the class. Funds from this settlement will enable me to seek the necessary medical attention to address my diminishing vision, and it would also provide me with funds to stabilize my life. My transition following my post-UFC career has been extremely difficult, and I have struggled with no stable income. Unfortunately, due to the toll this career takes on your body and the scars and injuries fighters are left with, it is very difficult to transition into normal careers."
This latest round of statements also included testimonials from current fighters such as Yair Rodriguez and Rani Yahya as well as numerous multi-fight UFC veterans such as Thiago Alves, Vladimir Matyushenko, Brandon Vera and former champion Lyoto Machida.
The testimonials were presented to the court as the plaintiffs await word on whether or not the judge will approve the settlement this time around or not.
In a prior filing, attorneys representing the plaintiffs noted fighters involved in the $375 million settlement "would recover (on average), after all fees and costs are deducted, $250,000."
There's no word on when the judge might rule on the settlement agreement but if it's denied then the parties involved could attempt another negotiation or possibly prepare for trial in the near future.