In a dramatic UFC 305 main event, Israel Adesanya, despite losing to Dricus du Plessis, reportedly earned more than the reigning UFC Middleweight Champion. The bout, held at the RAC Arena in Perth, Australia, saw Du Plessis successfully defend his title for the first time, forcing Adesanya to submit in the fourth round.

The fight, notable for being the first UFC title clash between two African fighters, was significant both historically and financially. According to The Sportster, Adesanya was guaranteed $750,000 for the fight, while Du Plessis received $500,000. With additional earnings from pay-per-view, both fighters are expected to earn over seven figures, though Adesanya’s share is projected to be higher due to his prominent status and past achievements.

Before the fight, Du Plessis had stirred controversy by claiming to be the “first real African UFC champion,” a statement that Adesanya viewed as a slight against previous African titleholders like himself, Kamaru Usman, and Francis Ngannou. After the bout, Du Plessis apologized and praised Adesanya, clarifying that he did not intend to disrespect his opponent’s African heritage.

In other UFC 305 news, notable payouts included Kai Kara-France earning a $50,000 bonus on top of his $300,000 base pay for his knockout win over Steve Erceg, who earned $75,000. Dan Hooker and Mateusz Gamrot each received $50,000 bonuses in addition to their base salaries of $350,000 and $110,000, respectively.