A new filing in the UFC antitrust lawsuit revealed statements from 51 fighters writing letters of support for the proposed settlement that would bring the decade-long case to a close.

Back in September, the UFC reached an agreement with the plaintiffs on a $375 million settlement to end the original antitrust lawsuit that was first filed by fighters such as Cung Le in 2014. An initial settlement for $335 million for both the original lawsuit covering fighters from 2010 to 2017 and a second lawsuit for fighters from 2017 to the present was rejected by Judge Richard Boulware in July.

The plaintiffs in the case went back to the negotiating table to reach terms on the new settlement agreement for $375 million that only covers the fighters from 2010 to 2017. In a separate filing, 56 fighters wrote letters urging the judge to approve the new settlement agreement to allow them some financial relief, which would be paid out much sooner than the case actually going to trial and then potentially getting tied up in appeals for several years.

The newest filing features 51 more fighters, including several ex-UFC champions, asking the judge to approve the settlement. In the letters, athletes detailed everything from brain damage to a broken neck and numerous other serious injuries suffered from fighting with hopes that money paid out from the settlement would help them immediately.

“While fighting for the UFC, I suffered many concussions,” ex-UFC heavyweight champion Fabricio Werdum wrote in his statement. “I fear that during my career I have suffered traumatic brain injury (TBI) and am noticing symptoms common with TBI and CTE (chronic traumatic encephalopathy) including irritability, anger, anxiety, insomnia and memory loss. I have many lesions and scarring in my brain, and I have a cyst that is located centrally within my brain making surgery thus far impossible. I monitor this cyst with biannual exams to determine if it is growing. To date, no treatment for CTE has been found.

“This would truly be life-changing money for me and for other members of the class. These funds would also allow me and my family to finish construction on our home in Brazil.”

Werdum, who primarily competed in the UFC between 2012 and 2020, went onto fight in the PFL and had one bout with Gamebred Fighting Championship with his last appearance coming in 2023.

Miguel Torres, who joined the UFC roster after the fighters from the WEC were folded into the organization, also detailed issues with brain damage from his career.

In the statement, Torres also claimed he was pressured into a fight by UFC CEO Dana White when he was injured, which then resulted in him suffering even more injuries.