Sean Strickland revealed that Francis Ngannou once asked him why he carries a weapon, to which Strickland responded that Ngannou would find the reason in the mirror. Carlos Prates and Jack Della Maddalena had their first face-off, with observers noting Prates' massive size and questioning how he makes welterweight given his frame and lack of dietary discipline. Heavyweight Shamil Gaziev currently weighs around 140 kg, well above his 120 kg weight class, with concerns raised about his weight cut for an upcoming Australian event where recovery time is halved. Arman Tsarukyan shared that UFC recently sent him an unexpected $42,000 bonus, which he believes may be related to his social media activity.
Several storylines collided this week as Sean Strickland shared a pointed exchange with Francis Ngannou, Carlos Prates and Jack Della Maddalena met face-to-face for the first time, and separate weight concerns emerged around Shamil Gaziev ahead of an upcoming Australian event.
Strickland, the 35-year-old middleweight champion out of Xtreme Couture, revealed that Ngannou once questioned why he carries a weapon. Strickland's reply was characteristically blunt, telling Ngannou he would find the answer by looking in the mirror. The reigning 185-pound titleholder carries a 31-7-0 record and leads the division in output, averaging 6.04 significant strikes per minute.
The welterweight picture drew attention when Prates and fourth-ranked contender Jack Della Maddalena shared their first face-off. Observers immediately remarked on Prates' imposing physical frame and questioned how he manages to compete at 170 pounds given his size and reported lack of dietary discipline. Della Maddalena, the 29-year-old Australian, holds an 18-4-0 record and lands 5.57 significant strikes per minute at 51 percent accuracy, making him one of the division's most dangerous strikers.
Heavyweight Shamil Gaziev is also drawing scrutiny. The 36-year-old Bahrain-based fighter, ranked eleventh at heavyweight with a 14-3-0 record and standing six-foot-four, reportedly currently weighs around 140 kg — well above the 120 kg heavyweight limit. Concerns have been raised about his ability to safely make weight for the Australian card, where the compressed schedule reportedly cuts recovery time in half.
Finally, lightweight contender Arman Tsarukyan disclosed that the UFC recently sent him an unexpected $42,000 bonus, which he believes may be connected to his social media presence.
Why it matters
- Strickland's anecdote reinforces his unfiltered public persona as middleweight champion
- Prates' size questions are relevant ahead of any potential title contention run at welterweight
- Gaziev's weight situation carries real health and scheduling implications for the Australian event
- Tsarukyan's bonus hints at the UFC increasingly rewarding fighters for digital engagement
