In a historic UFC 305 event, former middleweight champion Israel Adesanya walked away with a significant payday despite suffering a loss to South African fighter Dricus du Plessis. The match, which took place at the RAC Arena in Perth, Australia, marked the first UFC title clash between two African fighters and brought substantial financial rewards to both competitors.
Adesanya, who was guaranteed a base pay of $750,000, ultimately earned $1 million after factoring in additional revenue from pay-per-view earnings. His opponent, Du Plessis, secured $500,000 for the fight, which saw him successfully defend his UFC Middleweight Championship by submitting Adesanya in the fourth round.
The bout was fueled by tension leading up to the fight, with Du Plessis making controversial comments about being the “first real African UFC champion.” His remarks aimed at previous African champions, including Adesanya, Kamaru Usman, and Francis Ngannou—who no longer reside on the continent—stirred emotions within the MMA community.
Adesanya took these comments personally, interpreting them as an attack on his heritage. Despite the intensity, Du Plessis extended an olive branch after his victory, acknowledging Adesanya as a legend and clarifying that he never intended to disrespect his African roots.
While Adesanya may have lost the fight, his status as a global MMA superstar and former two-time middleweight champion played a significant role in his larger earnings. Reports suggest that both fighters will surpass seven figures when their pay-per-view shares are fully calculated, with Adesanya’s take expected to be higher due to his past achievements and marketability.
The UFC 305 event featured several other noteworthy matchups. In the co-main event, Kai Kara-France earned a $50,000 performance bonus on top of his $300,000 base pay after a first-round knockout of Steve Erceg, who took home $75,000. Dan Hooker and Mateusz Gamrot also delivered an exciting lightweight showdown, with both fighters pocketing $50,000 bonuses in addition to their base salaries of $350,000 and $110,000, respectively.
As UFC continues to expand its reach, this clash between Adesanya and Du Plessis will be remembered for its significance in both African MMA history and the global sports community.