Former UFC dual-weight champion Conor McGregor has claimed he received $20 million from a recent UFC settlement, taking to social media to declare “A handy twenty. #thanksforthecheese.”
The statement comes in response to the preliminary approval of a $375 million settlement by a Nevada judge in October, concluding the first of two antitrust lawsuits against the UFC. The settlement stems from the Le v. Zuffa case, where TKO Group, UFC’s parent company, agreed to resolve a class action lawsuit filed in 2014.
The original lawsuit, filed by several MMA competitors including Cung Le, Nathan Quarry, Jon Fitch, Brandon Vera, Luis Javier Vazquez, and Kyle Kingsbury, alleged that the UFC “used improper strategies to dominate the market for MMA fighter services, allowing it to pay its MMA fighters less than half as much as they otherwise would have received.”
MMA Journalists Association president Josh Gross recently highlighted on social media that many eligible fighters haven’t provided their contact information for the settlement. “Judge Boulware has not issued his final order yet, but it’s coming. When it does, claim forms will be sent out in 60 days followed by a 45-day deadline to sign,” Gross posted.
McGregor, who hasn’t competed since his 2021 encounter with Dustin Poirier where he sustained a leg injury, was among over 400 names listed as not having submitted their information.
The 36-year-old Irish star appears to be exploring new ventures, including potential involvement with Bare Knuckle Fighting Championship (BKFC), where he holds partial ownership. At a recent BKFC press conference in Italy, McGregor expressed interest in competing for the promotion: “The warrior spirit burns strong inside me. For sure. If you think I’m up here giving these speeches and leading these men into battle and I won’t step in there myself, think again.”
He added, “I’d like a world title in this company. I would wish to be the Bare Knuckle world champion. That is a significant belt to hold in your career. Nobody from boxing to mixed martial arts can speak nothing bad on a Bare Knuckle Fighting Championship world champion.”
