The gloves come off Monday night as Four Corners lines up the UFC for its next prime-time investigation. Titled Heavy Hitters, the episode airs June 9 at 8:30 PM AEST on ABC and ABC iview, and digs into the high-stakes economics behind the $12.1 billion combat sports juggernaut—raising pointed questions about who pays the price.
Reporter Mahmood Fazal leads the probe, speaking to ex-UFC fighters who say the company built its empire while systematically sidelining athlete welfare. The investigation tracks the rise of the UFC’s brand dominance and global expansion, even as fighters allege exploitative contracts, restricted mobility, and minimal pay. Several of those interviewed describe walking away from the sport physically broken and financially drained.
The episode arrives as the UFC faces ongoing legal pressure in the U.S., including a major class action that recently settled for $375 million. Heavy Hitters also touches on Australia’s role in the promotion’s growth, scrutinising the support and public money the UFC has reportedly received despite its labour record.
It’s a rare look inside a fight game that’s grown into a global entertainment machine—with little transparency and huge risks for those in the octagon.
