Sean Strickland explained his gun-carrying habits by saying Francis Ngannou would find the reason in the mirror. Carlos Prates and Jack Della Maddalena had their first faceoff, with observers noting Prates' massive size for the welterweight division despite a lack of dietary discipline. Shamil Gaziev weighed around 140 kg yesterday, 20 kg over his heavyweight limit, with the tournament set for Australia where recovery time is half the usual. Arman Tsarukyan revealed UFC sent him an unexpected $42,000 bonus a few days ago, possibly for social media work, and he joked about not asking his manager for details to avoid paying commission.
Sean Strickland, Carlos Prates, Arman Tsarukyan, and Shamil Gaziev all made headlines this week for reasons ranging from firearm philosophy to unexpected paydays, as social media activity from several fighters drew wide attention.
Strickland, the 35-year-old American middleweight champion out of Xtreme Couture, addressed questions about his gun-carrying habits in characteristically blunt fashion. Rather than offer a conventional explanation, he pointed toward Francis Ngannou as the reason — suggesting Ngannou need only look in the mirror to understand. The 31-7 titleholder stands six-foot-one with a 76-inch reach and remains one of the most active strikers in the sport, landing over six significant strikes per minute.
Carlos Prates and fourth-ranked welterweight contender Jack Della Maddalena squared off for the first time, and observers were quick to note the physical contrast. The 29-year-old Australian, who carries an 18-4 record and a pound-for-pound ranking of 13th, is listed at five-foot-eleven. Prates reportedly drew attention for his imposing size relative to the 170-pound division, particularly given that his build apparently comes without much dietary structure.
Heavyweight Shamil Gaziev generated more serious concern after reportedly tipping the scales at around 140 kilograms — roughly 20 kilograms above the heavyweight limit — ahead of a tournament set to take place in Australia. The 36-year-old Bahrain-based fighter, ranked 11th in the division with a 14-3 record, faces a compressed recovery window, as the tournament format allows only half the usual time between weigh-ins and competition.
Lightweight contender Arman Tsarukyan shared a lighter moment, revealing that the UFC sent him an unexpected bonus of $42,000, potentially tied to social media activity. He joked that he deliberately avoided asking his manager about the specifics so he could keep the full amount rather than pay commission.
Why it matters
- Strickland's public persona continues to generate attention around the middleweight title picture
- The Prates-Della Maddalena faceoff signals that their matchup is building toward a significant welterweight ranking clash
- Gaziev's weight situation raises real questions about his readiness for the Australian tournament under a shortened timeline
