Adesanya outshines Du Plessis financially despite defeat

In a dramatic showdown at UFC 305, Israel Adesanya’s bout with Dricus du Plessis ended with a fourth-round submission defeat for Adesanya.

However, the former middleweight champion reportedly earned more from the fight than his victorious opponent.

The historic clash at the RAC Arena in Perth, Australia, marked the first-ever UFC title fight between two African fighters.

While Du Plessis successfully defended his UFC Middleweight Championship for the first time, Adesanya’s earnings eclipsed his counterpart’s despite the loss.

According to The Sportster, Adesanya was guaranteed $750,000 for the bout, significantly higher than Du Plessis’s $500,000 guarantee.

Both fighters are expected to see their earnings soar into the seven-figure range when including additional pay-per-view revenue, with Adesanya’s share anticipated to be higher due to his established stature and achievements in the sport.

The lead-up to the fight was marked by controversy when Du Plessis labeled himself as the “first real African UFC champion,” a remark that Adesanya perceived as a slight against previous African champions like himself, Kamaru Usman, and Francis Ngannou.

Despite the tensions, the fight added another chapter to the growing legacy of African fighters in the UFC.

However, after securing the win via rear naked choke, Du Plessis extended an olive branch, apologising and referring to Adesanya as a legend while clarifying that he did not intend to disrespect his opponent’s African roots.

The UFC 305 card also saw notable payouts for other fighters. In the co-main event, Kai Kara-France earned a $50,000 bonus on top of his $300,000 base pay for his first-round knockout of Steve Erceg, who pocketed $75,000.

Dan Hooker and Mateusz Gamrot, who engaged in an exciting lightweight contest, each took home $50,000 bonuses on top of their respective $350,000 and $110,000 base pay cheques.