In a highly anticipated UFC 305 event, Israel Adesanya earned more than his opponent, Dricus du Plessis, despite suffering a defeat in their historic middleweight title bout. The fight, which took place at the RAC Arena in Perth, Australia, was the first-ever UFC title match between two African fighters, adding significant weight to the contest.

Adesanya, a former two-time UFC Middleweight Champion, was guaranteed a substantial payout of $750,000 for the fight, while Du Plessis, who was defending his title for the first time, earned $500,000. Although Adesanya was forced to tap out in the fourth round due to a rear naked choke from Du Plessis, his earnings from the bout exceeded those of the reigning champion. This disparity in earnings is attributed to Adesanya’s established reputation and his previous achievements in the sport, which have significantly boosted his marketability and pay-per-view share.

The fight was surrounded by controversy in the lead-up, as Du Plessis made headlines with his comments claiming to be the “first real African UFC champion.” His statement was seen as a dig at previous African-born champions like Adesanya, Kamaru Usman, and Francis Ngannou, who have since moved away from the continent. Adesanya, who has been vocal about his Nigerian heritage, found the remarks offensive and felt they undermined his identity and contributions to the sport as an African champion.

Despite the tension, after securing his victory, Du Plessis extended an olive branch to Adesanya, apologizing and clarifying that he did not intend to disrespect Adesanya’s African roots. He acknowledged Adesanya’s legendary status in the sport, aiming to move past the controversy.

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The UFC 305 event also featured other exciting matchups and significant payouts. In the co-main event, Kai Kara-France delivered a first-round knockout against Steve Erceg, earning a $50,000 bonus on top of his $300,000 base pay. Erceg, despite the loss, took home $75,000. Additionally, Dan Hooker and Mateusz Gamrot engaged in a thrilling lightweight contest, with both fighters earning $50,000 bonuses. Hooker’s base pay was $350,000, while Gamrot earned $110,000.

Overall, UFC 305 was a financially rewarding event for its participants, with Adesanya’s earnings highlighting his enduring star power even in defeat.