2024 is almost over and before we look to 2025, I thought it would be good to look over some of the top business stories in combat sports this year. While over a decade I went through an exhaustive list over an inordinate amount of days until January 1, that will not happen this year.
The reason for the lack of ceremony this year is merely due to being sick over the holidays and realistically there is only one major story this year bearing any huge significance.
The obvious top story of 2024 was the settlement of the Le v. Zuffa, et al. antitrust case. The settlement of the case finally took hold after a plethora of declarations flooded the court pleading with the judge that the $375 million would assist with their current medical, health and societal needs. Judge Boulware noted that the declarations from the class of fighters was one of the key reasons he decided to agree to the settlement. Certainly, the strategy was orchestrated by plaintiffs’ counsel and it worked. But, what came of the declarations was just an affirmation of what most knew or already believed. Hundreds of declarations which were filed in support of the proposed settlement.
The Kajan Johnson lawsuit against the UFC continues on with no trial date set. But the Le case was the bigger lawsuit which could have tilted the industry if the company faced an adverse jury result. Fortunately, the lawsuit settled short of both sides having to expend lots of money to gear up for trial.
The fighters were not interested in further prolonged appeals and most (if not all) thought that the settlement was sufficient despite the plaintiffs’ expert valuing the lawsuit much more than what the plaintiffs ended up with in the end.
In other news this year.
- UFC 300
While UFC 300 did not receive the fanfare that UFC 200 or UFC 100 received, it was still one of the benchmark events from the promotion. White had raised the bonuses from the standard $50,000 to $300,000 (in homage to 300).
The PPV telecast was headlined by UFC Light Heavyweight Champion Alex Pereira as he soundly defeated Jamahal Hill.
It also featured what one can argue as the KO of the Year as Max Holloway stopped Justin Gaethje in the final seconds of round 5 to win the BMF Belt. Holloway was winning the fight when with seconds left demanded Gaethje go toe-to-toe in the center of the ring. Holloway took home 2 of the 4 $300K bonuses for Fight of the Night and Performance of the Night.
The event drew a reported 20,067 for a gate of $16,508.
- The continued troubles of Conor McGregor
Another year, another one without Conor McGregor fighting in the UFC. The former two-time UFC champion was scheduled to fight Michael Chandler in June but due to a broken toe the fight was cancelled. The fight was never rescheduled.
In late November, he was found liable of sexual misconduct for an incident in Dublin in 2018. The graphic details revealed that he had taken cocaine and testimony from his accuser indicated that McGregor forced her onto a bed in a hotel to have sex. The accuser, Nikita Hand, testified that McGregor also choked her similar to how he had been in the Octagon.
The jury awarded her $260,000 (USD) and he was ordered to pay over $1 million (USD) in legal fees and costs as Hand was the prevailing party.
McGregor vowed to appeal the ruling although he did not. As a result, he lost some marketing opportunities although they are negligible. Dana White, to no one’s surprise, offered no comment or criticism despite being someone with an opinion on everything.
Even with the bad press, McGregor announced a boxing match in India against Logan Paul at a not to be determined date.
- The Trumpification of the UFC
It was no more apparent than 2024 that the UFC was heavily lobbying for Donald Trump. The UFC and its broadcast partner ESPN bent over backwards to ensure that Trump had his own walk-in appearance for PPV Prelim events. Trump’s ego was massaged at UFC 302 after he was convicted by a jury for the Stormy Daniels “hush money” case. Despite the shame Trump brought to the office of the American Presidency, the UFC crowds showered him with cheers. Trumps surrogate #1, Dana White, proudly used his social media platforms to push for Trump and against President Joe Biden and then the eventual nominee Vice President Kamala Harris. White and the ascendant white guy bloggers used their followers to tout Trump despite all of his despicable deeds and his obvious mental descendancy. White once again was a main cog at the National Republican Convention. The US elected Donald Trump to become the 47th President of the United States. He returned to center stage at UFC 309 New York City to celebrate the feat along with 90% of his sycophant army. Almost every fighter that won their bout paid homage to Trump as if he were a king.
It is unheard of to see a league or promotion be so political while claiming to be apolitical. What will be interesting is to see how far right the UFC can ratchet itself before deciding to walk it back. Dana White has never feared from turning down millions because of it not being a right “fit.” However, there is always a tipping point as to how anti-woke the company can be without losing on money.
- UFC 306
Dana White’s Love Letter to Mexican Combat Sports. The event occurred on Mexican Independence Day Weekend opposite Canelo Alvarez fighting cross-town at the UFC’s home arena of T-Mobile. A lot of story lines around the build out inside the Sphere and not a lot about the fight’s inside. The event was definitely one where the star was the venue. White did his research, in trying to get the look and feel he wanted. Throughout the broadcast, the announcers gushed over the interludes between fights and White promised a $25K “easter egg” hunt winner for those that could tie the “mini-movies” together.
The costs of decking out The Sphere was around $20 million bragged White and he had hoped that the fights would be just as exciting as he had hyped…or hoped. They did not. But regardless of the outcomes inside, the event drew $22 million at the box office which was a record for the promotion.
Pic via UFC PR.
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