In Las Vegas, two ex-UFC fighters have initiated antitrust lawsuits against the prominent mixed martial arts organization, accusing it of monopolistic practices that limit their potential for earning optimum wages. The cases have been taken to the U.S. District Court in Nevada by Phil Davis and Mikhail Cirkunov, who fought under the alias Misha Cirkunov, targeting the UFC based in Las Vegas.
The legal representation for both fighters is being managed by the Philadelphia-based firm, Berger Montague, with local collaboration from Claggett and Sykes in Las Vegas. However, an inquiry directed to the local law firm had not been answered as of Monday.
In his lawsuit, Cirkunov is seeking damages of $75,000, yet Davis has not disclosed the specific amount he is aiming to claim.
This legal action follows a significant settlement in September, where the UFC agreed to pay $375 million to resolve a class-action antitrust lawsuit initiated by Cung Le back in 2014.
Additionally, Kajan Johnson, who filed a lawsuit in 2021, remains without a settlement with the UFC. Both new lawsuits reference Johnson’s case, with Cirkunov’s filing highlighting similarities.
The UFC, in response, emphasized that earlier hearings unveiled plaintiff’s concerns regarding weaknesses in Johnson’s claims, highlighting that the newly filed Cirkunov complaint reiterates issues around the standing of the plaintiffs to represent the proposed class. Moreover, the organization noted that most fighters had signed class-action waivers, opting for arbitration over courtroom proceedings, and expressed confidence in the legal stance they hold against these proposed classes.
Phil Davis, who competed in the UFC from 2010 until 2015, later shifting to Bellator MMA, now known as the Professional Fighters League, asserts that the UFC’s dominance restricts even non-affiliated fighters from earning competitive pay.
Mikhail Cirkunov’s tenure with the UFC lasted from 2015 to 2022.