With UFC 300 in the books and the antitrust settlement all but ensuring that the promotion will continue doing business as usual, we thought a thorough analysis of what the current state of MMA is, what its future looks like and if any of the more prominent promotions will be around by the time UFC 400 gets here. We look at the UFC’s current and future …

UFC 300 is just hours away and the PR machine is in hyperdrive. From revelations of newly designed gloves to announcements of massively increased bonuses (sorry, Fighters, it’s just for this event), there’s a lot of fluffy, sugary, feel-good stories dominating community media. We decided to tackle three topics to shine a light on some things you may not be aware of.

The glove redesign announcement was the first topic we discussed. While the new hand-gear won’t be implemented at UFC 300, it was revealed as part of the promotion’s marketing campaign for the event, sort of an extracurricular revelation for fans to get excited about. The newly designed gloves are the UFC’s answer to decreasing eye pokes. A user on X (formerly Twitter), Snarky Ginger, suggested that financial penalties were the only way to truly ensure a decrease in eye pokes.

* Lay out the revenue split and the contract language that basically shows how heavy an impact enforcing financial penalties would be to the lower tier, entry level fighters.

Our second topic focused on the announcement Dana White made at the event press conference on Thursday regarding bonuses. White said that after a conversation with Justin Gaethje where the BMF belt-holder asked for the bonuses to be bumped up to $300K, he’d decided to go ahead and make the bonuses for that amount. Fans and media alike roared their approval, causing Dana to grin from ear-to-ear like the Cheshire Cat.

* Explain why four fighters getting $300K bonuses is still wildly exploitative considering how much the UFC will make on this event.

The final topic of the episode centered around a buzz phrase: “12 current or former champions”. That line is doing all the heavy lifting for the marketing of UFC 300. The card is massively stacked, undoubtedly. It’s unlikely we’ll see another card this well booked until the next “00” event. But there is a sobering bit of information that many either don’t know or have forgotten, and that is the stark difference between being a current champion and being a former champion.

* Explain what the financial perks of being a champion are and conversely, how dramatic the change is when you become a "former champion".

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UFC 300 will undoubtedly be the the most stacked card of the year, but it remains to be seen if it will do the highest PPV buy rate, especially with rumors of a Conor McGregor return this year, but for now, this mega-event is the big one. With 12 current or former champions, it could be the most talent-rich show we’ve ever been treated to, and among tha…

Matchroom is an entity that is far more than just a British boxing promotion. As a matter of fact, there are multiple Matchroom branches, both in the UK and even in the USA. Their financial filings were released a few weeks ago, so we scrutinized them, crunched some numbers and have those findings here in an easy to understand dissection. Everything fro…

The UFC contract has long been the blueprint by which all other promotions modeled their own contracts upon, so it stands to reason that most contracts look similar. That said, some promotions go the extra mile to be even more draconian and restrictive than their predecessors. PFL is certainly trying to outdo all the others with theirs.

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We were able to obtain a copy thanks to a lawsuit in Brazil where Manoel Sousa de Araujo sued PFL for breach of contract. You can follow along as we break down each section. Just click the link below to download the PDF.

At the beginning of the show, we touch down once more on the UFC antitrust case settlement to look at why the introduction of the class action waiver became the cudgel that likely pushed the Plaintiffs to settle. Here’s our outline for Part 1, which we’re giving away on the house. Part 2 will be available Wednesday, but it will be behind the paywall.

Part 1 Outline

* What are we looking at and how did we get it?

* If we look at the Exclusive Promotional Fight Agreement, sec 4 terms, what does it say?

* Sec 6 Compensation. How does this work on the contract?

* We like to check on the incidentals, what do PFL fighters get in sec 8?

* Anything noteworthy in sec 11 PFL’s rules and code of conduct?

* We now go to exhibit A - terms & conditions. Under promotional rights and MMA bouts, who, according to section 3.5, gets to determine the rules?

* Sec 4, promotional activities. What’s expected of the fighters?

* In your highlighted section (Exclusivity), what happens if a fighter breaches this section?

* Section 7 fighter obligation: What is a fighters obligation to be on time and what is the punishment for failing to do so?

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Now that the UFC antitrust case has ended with a settlement, many are left wondering what the detail of it are aside from the settlement total the community was given. As it stands right now, we know the amount was for $335M and that both cases were settled. Outside the 50 day suspension of the trial (so they can wrap the case) and an order for both parties to file a status report on or before May 1, 2024.

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John Nash, Jason Cruz and Paul Gift (aka the Show Money Podcast) break down the details, provide explainers for terminology and give likely scenarios that could come into play, especially since the second case will see so few of its athletes compensated. Even the first case has some exclusion from inside the Plaintiff’s pool. It’s a must-listen episode and it’s 100% free.

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Earlier today, it was announced that the Plaintiffs (the fighters) in both UFC antitrust cases have reached a settlement with the Defendant (UFC/Zuffa) in the amount of $335M—a figure that will end up being tax deductible for the UFC. No further details were released other than a 50 day suspension of the case (to approve the settlement) and an order for both parties to file a status report on or before May 1, 2024.

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We break down some important factors that will come into play as the final stages of this case get resolved. The episode is brief, but answers the following questions:

* How many fighters are represented in the Le v Zuffa case?

* How many fighters are represented in the Johnson v Zuffa case?

* How many fighters from each of the cases will be eligible for settlements?

* How the $335M amount may have been reached

* How the amount falls in line with recent National Association of Realtors antitrust case

* Method fighters will likely get paid

* Method attorneys will likely get paid

* Possibility of contractual changes

* Why class waivers are such a big deal

* Would other promoters be able to pick up the mantle and file suit against the UFC?

* Would there be reasons why they shouldn’t?

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Thank you for listening to the Hey Not The Face! Podcast. We’d be eternally grateful if you could help us spread word of this episode by sharing it far and wide.

In part 1 of our UFC antitrust case primer, we went through the suit, starting with its inception, then going through the entire process. We broke down legal terminology, who the named Plaintiffs are and who the Defendant is, when they filed and why it took so long to get to trial. There is also a thorough explainer of how there came to be a second anti…

After being in what seemed like limbo for the better part of a decade, the UFC antitrust case is finally headed to trial in about four weeks. The Plaintiffs (the fighters) will present their case via a crack team of attorneys including MMAFA founder Rob Maysey. The Defendant, better known as Zuffa and/or the UFC, has already gone through a string of set…

In our latest episode, we discuss several topics, starting with the sale of Bloody Elbow and subsequent deletion of all its UFC antitrust content, as well as anything highlighting their business practices. There is an interesting conspiracy theory floating around, and it’s one that doesn’t seem too far-fetched, so we led the conversation with that.

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We also look at the UFC’s increasing use of right wing politicking to further their business enterprise. Just this past Saturday at UFC 299, Donald Trump made yet another appearance at a UFC PPV event. Fun fact, of the last five PPVs, Trump has attended three of them.

Finally, we take a look at Saudi Arabia’s increasing presence in combat sports, especially in boxing. They’ve had two big events but how do they plan to monetize their shows? And will they stick to boxing or will they branch out further with reinforced investment in the PFL?

Episode 42 Outline

* Bloody Elbow discussion

* The UFC’s shift to the right for sponsorship

* Benefits to having Trump in office with regard to the antitrust case

* A Trump presidency over a Biden presidency

* How Joshua and Ngannou did business-wise

* Did Ngannou make a mistake with his career?

* Who is running boxing in Saudi Arabia?

* Is this sports washing?

* What is Saudi Arabia trying to do?

* Is there a better plan for them?

The Hey Not the Face! Podcast is an independent publication. Please subscribe to keep up with our best work and learn how you can support us.

Thank you for listening to the Hey Not The Face! Podcast. We’d be eternally grateful if you could help us spread word of this episode by sharing it far and wide.