Israel Adesanya leads UFC 248 salaries with $500,000 for his fight with Yoel Romero

Israel Adesanya is the reigning and defending middleweight champion but he’s also going to be the highest paid fighter by a wide margin heading into UFC 248.

On Friday, the Nevada State Athletic Commission confirmed the salaries to MMA Fighting for the fighters competing in Las Vegas this weekend.

Adesanya will make a $500,000 flat fee for his latest title fight after defeating Robert Whittaker last October to become the undisputed champion. Meanwhile, Romero will earn a $350,000 payday as a flat fee as well for his spot in the main event.

In a strange twist, former UFC strawweight champion Joanna Jedrzejczyk will actually make more in a base salary than current title holder Zhang Weili as they prepare to meet in the co-main event.

Jedrzejczyk will earn $106,000 to show with another $106,000 paid out if she’s victorious. Zhang is set to take home $100,000 to show with an additional $100,000 paid to her if she wins.

Out of all the base salaries at UFC 248, those are the only four fighters earning six-figures before ever setting foot inside the Octagon. Here are the full salaries for UFC 248 — and as always a reminder that these numbers do not reflect any undisclosed bonuses or pay-per-view profits potentially paid to certain athletes.

UFC 248: Adesanya vs. Romero salaries per the Nevada State Athletic Commission:

Israel Adesanya: $500,000 flat fee

Yoel Romero: $350,000 flat fee

Zhang Weili: $100,000 to show, $100,000 to win

Joanna Jedrzejczyk: $106,000 to show, $106,000 to win.

Beneil Dariush: $70,000 to show, $70,000 to win

Drakkar Klose: $40,000 to show, $40,000 to win

Neil Magny: $76,000 to show, $76,000 to win

Li Jingliang: $64,000 to show, $64,000 to win

Alex Oliveira: $64,000 to show, $64,000 to win

Max Griffin: $35,000 to show, $35,000 to win

Sean O’Malley: $35,000 to show, $35,000 to win

Jose Quinonez: $33,000 to show, $33,000 to win

Mark Madsen: $33,000 to show, $33,000 to win

Austin Hubbard: $12,000 to show, $12,000 to win

Rodolfo Vieira: $14,000 to show, $14,000 to win

Saparbek Safarov: $22,000 to show, $22,000 to win

Gerald Meerschaert: $30,000 to show, $30,000 to win

Deron Winn: $12,000 to show, $12,000 to win

Emily Whitmire: $14,000 to show, $14,000 to win

Polyana Viana: $18,000 to show, $18,000 to win

Giga Chikadze: $12,000 to show, $12,000 to win

Jamall Emmers: $10,000 to show, $10,000 to win

Batgerel Danaa: $10,000 to show, $10,000 to win

Guido Cannetti: $14,000 to show, $14,000 to win