Dana White (photo) is president of the UFC. Photo: Reproduction/YouTube UFC
The most famous octagon in the world is preparing for another battle, this time in the courts. A federal judge overturned the US$335 million (R$1,8 billion) agreement between the UFC and a group of former fighters, which reopens the dispute that has been going on for years.
After months of negotiations, the organization and a group of former athletes reached a historic agreement in March to end a long legal battle marred by accusations of monopoly and exploitation. However, the euphoria was short-lived. A federal judge threw cold water on the parties' expectations by rejecting the billion-dollar agreement, alleging that the compensation amount was insufficient.
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The court decision reopens the Pandora's box of a case that has been going on since 2014. The former fighters accuse the organization of having abused its market power to dictate the conditions of contracts and pay derisory salaries to athletes. The UFC, in turn, denies the accusations and argues that it has always acted within the law.
With the agreement annulled, the parties go back to square one and prepare for a new round of negotiations or a trial that could last for years. The judge's decision left the former athletes in a delicate situation, as the possibility of receiving million-dollar compensation became more remote.
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