This weekend, UFC 305 in Australia not only provided a visual spectacle for MMA fans but also proved to be financially rewarding for the 24 fighters on the highly anticipated card. The fighters collectively earned $243,500 in compliance pay under the comprehensive plan, bringing the year-to-date total to $5,158,000. That ensures adherence to promotion uniform requirements and other conduct guidelines. This system was implemented in 2015, initially with UFC sponsor Reebok, and subsequently replaced by Venum in 2021.

UFC 305 awarded multiple performance bonuses, including those for adhering to promotional guidelines. Headliner Dricus du Plessis earned $43,000, while Israel Adesanya received $32,000, among the event’s highest payouts. Co-headliner Kai Kara-France and Steve Erceg received $11,000 and $6,000, respectively. Adesanya’s friend, Dan Hooker received a $21,000 bonus for his thrilling split-decision victory over Mateusz Gamrot, despite immediate medical attention afterward.

Numerous other fighters received performance-based compensation, which, when merged with previous years, comes to a combined total of 27,895,000.

Under the UFC’s compliance pay system, fighters receive money generated through their UFC contracts. This system compensates fighters based on the number of UFC fights they’ve had, including past fights in promotions like WEC and Strikeforce. Additionally, experienced fighters are eligible for royalty payments, amounting to approximately 20-30% of UFC merchandise sales.

While the performance bonuses were significant, the focus of the event was on the fight itself and the dramatic aftermath. Before the fight, Adesanya expressed intense anger towards Dricus du Plessis, declaring his intention to prove himself as the true African champion and vowing to defeat him decisively to reclaim his lost glory. However, after the fight, Adesanya surprised fans with a change of heart, offering a dramatic congratulations to his long-time rival.

Adesanya congratulated Du Plessis with a reminder

The main event of UFC 305 captivated MMA fans from the opening bell. While the fight itself was explosive, the underlying tension was ignited during the pre-fight press conference. Du Plessis’ personal attack on Adesanya, questioning the champion’s relationship with his entourage, provoked a strong emotional response. Adesanya was visibly, vowing to inflict serious harm on du Plessis as retribution.

However, the aftermath of the fight saw a shift in Adesanya’s stance. He extended an olive branch to du Plessis, congratulating him and acknowledging, “Dricus is an African champion.” Yet, he drew a line, excluding du Plessis from his esteemed ‘Three Kings’ group, a concept previously emphasized during the pre-fight press conference. Adesanya declared, “The 3 kings will reign supreme…[Dricus] is gonna inspire another generation of African fighters as well. Congrats to him tonight. Till we meet again.”

What are your thoughts on today’s  UFC 305 payout? Are you satisfied with how the fighters were compensated, considering Dan Hooker, who has spent more time in the promotion than Dricus du Plessis, received less money? Share your thoughts in the comments below.