Former UFC middleweight champion Israel Adesanya became the promotion's most profitable fighter for 2022, selling a combined total of more than 1.5 million pay-per-views.
Adesanya's rematch with Robert Whittaker at UFC 271 in February 2022 sold 600,000 PPV. Israel's next fight against Jared Cannonier, held in July at UFC 276, had a more modest 400,000 sales.
Adesanya last entered the Octagon against Alex Pereira in November at UFC 281 in New York. In that fight, which sold 600 PPV, Israel was defeated by TKO in the fifth round and lost the championship belt. He has 23 wins and two losses under his belt.