Israel Adesanya Calls for Higher Post-Fight Bonuses in the UFC: “Inflation is Going Up!”

Israel Adesanya, the reigning Middleweight champion, expressed his belief that the UFC should increase post-fight bonuses for its fighters. In a recent appearance on the Impaulsive podcast, Adesanya highlighted the UFC’s recent merger with the WWE, valuing the company at $21.4 billion, and suggested that the bonuses should reflect the growth and success of the organization.

Adesanya acknowledged that the current bonus structure of $50,000 is a nice reward but emphasized that his knockouts alone are worth that amount. He cited instances where the UFC increased the bonuses to $100,000 for certain milestone events and called for a similar adjustment to the regular bonus amounts.

The middleweight champion pointed out the impact of inflation and the rising costs of living, suggesting that it’s only fair for the post-fight bonuses to increase as well. Adesanya made it clear that he has conveyed his thoughts to the UFC and believes that raising the bonuses is a reasonable request given the company’s financial success.

Adesanya’s call for higher post-fight bonuses reflects a larger conversation about fighter pay and compensation in the UFC. As the sport continues to grow and generate substantial revenue, many fighters have advocated for improved compensation and a fairer distribution of profits. Adesanya’s remarks shed light on the need for the promotion to prioritize the financial well-being of its athletes.

In a sport where fighters put their bodies on the line and entertain millions of fans, it is crucial to ensure that they are appropriately rewarded for their efforts. Adesanya’s outspoken stance on the issue adds to the ongoing dialogue within the MMA community, encouraging a more equitable system that reflects the value and dedication fighters bring to the Octagon.

Israel Adesanya’s plea for increased post-fight bonuses resonates with the fighters and fans alike, highlighting the need for the UFC to address fighter compensation in line with the company’s financial growth. As the sport evolves, it becomes increasingly important to recognize the contributions of the athletes and provide them with fair and competitive compensation packages.

“My knockouts alone are worth $50,000. The UFC and WWE merger, a $21.4 billion dollar company. I’m like, yo, they can go up. It’s been a few years, inflation has been going up. The bonuses have to go up, that’s how I feel. Well, I’ve told them this, I’ve said this publicly, it’s nothing crazy.”

Alexander Volkanovski outlines the narrative on how the UFC is working on the trilogy bout between Israel Adesanya and Alex Pereira

Israel Adesanya’s remarkable performance against Alex Pereira at UFC 287 on April 8 continues to leave UFC fans in awe. Despite a momentary setback in the second round where Pereira appeared to have Adesanya hurt, the middleweight champion made an astonishing comeback, securing victory through a knockout. The win was so impressive that even UFC Hall of Famer Daniel Cormier believes it to be the knockout of the year thus far.

Adesanya’s triumph over Pereira, combined with his controversial taunting of Pereira’s child after the fight, left spectators eager to witness a rematch between the two fighters. However, Pereira surprised everyone by announcing his decision to move up to the light heavyweight division. He is now set to challenge Jan Blachowicz at UFC 291, with the possibility of the winner earning a shot at the light heavyweight title.

Meanwhile, the UFC has made significant moves in the middleweight division. Robert Whittaker is scheduled to face Dricus Du Plessis at UFC 290 on July 8, and the victor of that bout will be granted the opportunity to contend for the middleweight title. However, it appears that Adesanya may also be competing at UFC 293 on September 10. It remains uncertain whether Whittaker or Du Plessis would be available for a quick turnaround to face Adesanya in that event.

While fans will have to wait for a potential trilogy fight between Adesanya and Pereira, UFC Featherweight Champion Alexander Volkanovski believes that the UFC has a strategic plan in place to arrange the bout in the future. During an interview with the MMA Fan Podcast with Stu and Blake, Volkanovski expressed his belief that a third encounter between his friend Adesanya and Pereira could occur, potentially in the light heavyweight division if Pereira becomes the UFC Light Heavyweight Champion:

“…I think it will happen. I think it’s just not something that’s going to happen right away. Obviously, three fights back to back isn’t always good. Like we’ve seen it before, but you don’t really want them like that, so for them to agree, if he(Pereira) wants to go up, say, win the light heavyweight title, and then they fight for like champ-champ. Like, obviously the fight could be massive. Whether that’s what the UFC is planning on doing, I don’t know. I do think that would be pretty clever.”

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