UFC 261: Kamaru Usman earns career-high N582m for knocking out Masvidal

Kamaru Usman, Nigerian-American professional mixed martial artist, took home a career-high N582 million for knocking out Jorge Masvidal at the Ultimate Fighting Championship (UFC) 261 on Saturday.

The welterweight champion was the highest-paid fighter on the event card that took place in front of 15,000 fans in Florida — the first UFC event with a capacity crowd since the COVID-19 pandemic.

Usman wrecked Masvidal with a vicious right blow that sent the American flat onto the canvas before he plopped him further with a succession of hammer punches.

It took just 1 minute 2 seconds into the second round and the 33-year-old finished his job expertly to secure his 14th straight win — the longest winning streak in UFC at the moment.

According to Daily Mail UK, Usman raked in £1.1 million (an estimated N582 million) as a reward for emphatically defending his title.

The money was further broken up as £538,000 to show up, £459,000 in pay-per-view bonus, a £43,000 sponsorship bonus, and a well-deserved £35,000 performance of the night bonus.

It’s the largest sum the Nigerian has ever earned throughout his career.

The defeated Masvidal earned £358,000 to show, £186,000 in pay-per-view money, and a £28,000 sponsorship bonus.