ISRAEL ADESANYA has been promoted to the UFC and is now one of the highest-earning fighters.
This week, the dominant middleweight champion signed a multi-fight deal with the MMA star.
Israel Adesanya has signed a multi-fight agreement with the UFC
A press release by The Last Stylebender's Management reads: "One the most lucrative multifight deals in company history.
This deal will make Adesanya one of the most highly paid athletes in mixed martial arts history.
Adesanya won't know the exact value of his deal until he fights in a state that requires UFC to disclose fighter purses.
The Kiwi-born Nigerian is thrilled with his new salary, but he insists it won't change the way he thinks.
UFC 271 Media Day: "It’s a big deal. It's an f***ing huge deal.
"And Eugene [Bareman] was Adesanya's coach, and he was thrilled. You can see that even he got emotional. The same sentiment was felt by Tim Simspon (Adesanya’s manager).
"But I was like, It hasn’t hit me yet.' Because, if this was about money, then I would have bounced. To be truthful, I would have done this at least three fights ago.
"Because it's my nature to be set. "Because I have one the most intelligent men with money behind and he's helping to flip money the smartest way.
It's not all about money. I love money, don't get me wrong. It's not all about the money.
"This is about heritage, this about martial arts, it is about learning. Yes, I haven’t lost that step, but I’m still hungry."
CONOR STILL TOP
Adesanya, a fan favourite, took home a disclosure purse of PS375,000 ($500,000), for his last title defense against Marvin Vettori at UFC 263
His new guaranteed purses are believed to be much larger than the amount he received on his previous deal.
Adesanya's deal with UFC has made him likely the second-highest earner in the UFC, behind Conor McGregor.
McGregor, a MMA mogul, had his last known purse of PS2.2 million. This was for Donald Cerrone's UFC 246 victory.
However, the Irishman was significantly enriched by his share of pay-per view sales.
Adesanya, who is under the same management as The Notorious, will likely have the same agreement with the MMA leader.
Adesanya will return to action on Sunday morning at UFC 271 in Houston Texas. He'll be rematching his rival Robert Whittaker.
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