Israel Adesanya inks a new fight multi-fight deal with the UFC
Israel Adesanya has just made sure that his future with the UFC will be a lucrative one. The middleweight champion has just signed a new multi-year fight deal with the organization. The news was announced in a press release from Adesanya’s agency, Paradigm. According to the release, this new contract will make Adesnaya “one of the top paid athletes in the history of mixed martial arts.”
Adesanya is on the brink of making his fourth title defense this upcoming weekend when he takes on Robert Whittaker at UFC 271. This fight is a rematch between these two high-caliber athletes. They first met at UFC 243, when Adesnaya beat Whittaker by second-round KO and solidifying his title. Since that first meeting, both men have been unstoppable in the middleweight division. Adesanya did however suffer one loss to former light heavyweight champion Jan Blachowicz at the heavier weight.
Coming into this bout at UFC 271, Adesanya was notably at the end of his current contract with the UFC. If he were to win, the contract would extend due to the champion clause, but Adesanya decided, along with his representation, to beat it to the punch. Although the specifics of the new contract were not given, Adesanya will be one of the highest-paid on the roster. The new deal has shone some light on him from one of the other highest-paid fighters in the UFC, Conor McGregor. McGregor, who shares the same agency, shouted out Adesanya on social media.
Can’t wait to see Izzy Style back in the Octagon this weekend! One of the true remaining high level fighter/performer athletes we have on the roster!
Don’t just fight! Perform! @stylebender back in the Octagon this week! Only on PPV! @ufc @espn #AndStill https://t.co/zVYfpNDrb3— Conor McGregor (@TheNotoriousMMA) February 9, 2022
“Can’t wait to see Izzy Style back in the Octagon this weekend! One of the true remaining high-level fighter/performer athletes we have on the roster!” McGregor wrote. “Don’t just fight! Perform! @stylebender back in the Octagon this week! Only on PPV!”
Getting this deal done is a huge accomplishment for the UFC at this time. There has been a number of fighters coming out unhappy with the payment structure to the UFC. Most notably, Francis Ngannou has threatened to leave the UFC following negotiation problems. Adesanya is locked in for a while, and if he continues to win, it will be a present ride for both him and the organization.
