Israel Adesanya reportedly earned a higher payout than reigning champion Dricus Du Plessis at UFC 305, despite losing the middleweight championship bout. Adesanya, a former two-time middleweight champion, was guaranteed $750,000 for the fight, while Du Plessis received $500,000, as reported by The Sportster.
The UFC 305 main event, which took place at the RAC Arena in Perth, Australia, was a historic battle between two African fighters and marked Du Plessis’ first successful title defense since becoming the middleweight champion. The fight ended with Du Plessis forcing Adesanya to tap out in the fourth round via a rear-naked choke.
While Du Plessis emerged victorious, Adesanya’s status and past achievements in the sport led to a higher share of the pay-per-view revenue. Both fighters are expected to clear seven figures in total earnings, with Adesanya’s portion projected to surpass that of Du Plessis.
In the lead-up to the fight, Du Plessis faced controversy for claiming to be the “first real African UFC champion,” a remark perceived as a slight against previous African titleholders such as Adesanya, Kamaru Usman, and Francis Ngannou, who no longer reside on the continent. Following his victory, Du Plessis apologized and referred to Adesanya as a legend, clarifying that he did not intend to disrespect his opponent’s African roots.
