Without question, Israel Adesanya is one of the most successful UFC fighters in recent years. The middleweight fighter enjoyed one of the most dominant title reigns, which has finally ended. Adesanya has recently found himself on the opposite side of winning, although this hasn’t necessarily harmed his overall UFC revenue.
In his last two bouts, Israel Adesanya lost to Sean Strickland and Dricus Du Plessis. Against Strickland, Izzy failed to defend his middleweight title and was outclassed in the striking department. In the DDP fight, Izzy was submitted by the newly crowned champion. In a recent interview, Adesanya talked about his UFC fight purses and claimed to be making millions despite the recent losses.
It’s nice now. Everytime I fight, I feel like I won the lotto.
Israel Adesanya via The Adam Carolla Show
Adesanya has come a long way since he started in UFC, where he made around $50K in his early days. However, since becoming a champion, he expanded his fan base and started his journey as a pay-per-view superstar. This conversation comes amidst rumors about Adesanya’s future plans.
After his defeat, Adesanya decided to visit his home country Nigeria, in order to meet his people. On top of that, the middleweight fighter has now lost his place in the men’s pound-for-pound list. However, it doesn’t affect Izzy who has the potential to come back soon.
Israel Adesanya talks about getting rich
Israel Adesanya’s net worth is expected to be in the $5-6 million range in 2024. His money is derived from UFC bout purses, bonuses, endorsements, and pay-per-view (PPV) shares. Adesanya enjoys lucrative partnerships with businesses such as Puma and Call of Duty, which add significantly to his earnings.
His title matches and successful defenses have also resulted in significant paydays. However, over the years, it has never affected Adesanya’s determination to fight. According to Izzy, things have definitely gotten better for him due to the financial benefits.
Money would have changed me years ago. You get to a certain point where you make so many millions that it doesn’t really matter…As long as I can put a full tank of gas in…that’s when I know I’m good.
Israel Adesanya via Theo Von’s Podcast
With back-to-back losses, fans and experts are wondering what’s next for the once-dominant middleweight champ. Israel Adesanya‘s legacy in the UFC is well-established, having previously defended his championship five times. On top, he remains one of the most dynamic strikers in MMA. While Adesanya has no plans to retire, it remains to be seen if he will reach the middleweight throne again.
