Kiwi MMA superstar Israel Adesanya has inked one of the richest contracts in UFC history.
According to Adesanya's management at Paradigm Sports, the contract is "one of the most lucrative multi-fight deals in company history", which will make him "one of the top paid athletes in the history of mixed martial arts".
While he wouldn't discuss details, Adesanya describes the figures as "crazy" but insists money has become only a secondary motivation in his flourishing fight career.
"It's a big deal, it's a f*cking big deal," Adesanya says.
"[Coach] Eugene [Bareman] was ecstatic. He got emotional. [Manager] Tim [Simpson] felt the same way, but it hasn't hit me yet.
"Because if I was going to just do this for the money and bounce I would've done this maybe three fights ago, to be honest.
"I'm kind of set. I have one of the smartest money men behind me, who's helping me flip my money the smart way.
"I love money don't get me wrong, but it's not about money. This is about legacy. This is about martial arts. This is about learning. I haven't lost that step. I'm still hungry."
Since joining the promotion in 2018, Adesanya has made a near-unprecedented rise to middleweight champion, using his rare combination of flashy fighting skills and gift of the gab to become one of the UFC's most marketable and high-profile fighters.
He also has sponsorship deals with the likes of sportswear giant Puma and is the face of EA Sports' UFC 4 video game.
Adesanya's new mega-deal comes at a time when some of the UFC's most prominent fighters are engaged in contract disputes with the promotion, including heavyweight champion Francis Ngannou.
'The Last Stylebender' now believes he's the second highest-paid UFC athlete behind Irish megastar Conor McGregor and is worth every cent.
McGregor is also managed by Paradigm, who reportedly secured him a six-fight deal worth in the US$100 million (NZ149.5m) range in 2018.
"You can’t undersell my value. If you are, you’re kidding yourself," says Adesanya.
"I bring so many different looks to this company, even without trying. I’m Nigerian. I’ve brought that whole nation. Me and the three kings, the continent of Africa is on our back, I wear it on my chest.
"We have the Oceania region looking at us. I’m a guy who crosses over into the mainstream so easily. I have this appeal. I’ve got that thing.
"I'm glad the UFC is starting to see that. They’ve already known that. They've known that since the jump. Dana [White] knew this since the jump.
"I'm just a guy who deals with my dealings with the UFC behind the scenes and I’m glad we came to an agreement with this new deal. I look forward to this effect trickling down to the rest of the fighters."
Adesanya's team at Paradigm Sports say they're "very happy" with the new agreement.
"Israel truly deserves to be in the position that he is in, and we look forward to several more prosperous years with the UFC," says Adesanya's manager Simpson.
The new deal comes after months of negotiations, with an agreement reached only days before Adesanya attempts to defend his middleweight title against Robert Whittaker at UFC 271 on Sunday (NZ time).
Paradigm Sports Management is one of the most prominent agencies in MMA. It added Adesanya to its books back in 2019, after his five-round war with Kelvin Gastelum.
Three days out from his title defence against Whittaker, Adesanya took the opportunity to address comments from the Australian that Jan Blachowicz had exposed the Kiwi-Nigerian in their light heavyweight title clash back in March, outlining a blueprint to victory as he handed him his first UFC loss.
Adesanya dismissed any suggestion Whittaker was capable of implementing such a grapple-heavy game-plan, offering an emphatic prediction for Sunday's rematch.
"My prediction is that I am going to f**k Whittaker up, again," Adesanya said.
"He can't stand with me, so I know he will be forced to grapple. Last time he said Kelvin Gastelum had given the blueprint on how to beat Adesanya, and now he's saying Jan [Blachowicz] has given the blueprint.
He needs to write his own blueprint. If he wants to copy someone else's work, then by all means try, because it went so well last time for him when we fought.
"Whittaker may have learnt from his mistakes from last time for maybe a round or so, but then trust me, he will revert back to those errors. Once he feels what he felt last time, he won't know where to turn.
"Also, he didn’t even grapple with me last time, he didn’t really feel me. You can ask any of my previous opponents, they will tell you. So once he feels me in a grapple, then he will get shook again."
Join us from 12pm Sunday for live updates of UFC 271 - Adesanya v Whittaker
