In 2014 a group of former UFC fighters that included Cung Le, Jon Fitch and Brandon Vera filed a lawsuit against the UFC seeking between $800 million and $1.6 billion in damages. That lawsuit accused the UFC of manipulating the mixed martial arts industry in a way that harmed fighters’ abilities to secure meaningful and fair employment within the sector.
The plaintiffs have also accused the UFC of not sharing profits with fighters on a level that matches over top tier sports organizations and elite international athletes. The plaintiffs have estimated that the UFC gives fighters less than 20% of total revenue, whereas major US sports leagues provide a 50-50 revenue split with players.