Sean Strickland made a humorous remark about why he carries a weapon, telling Francis Ngannou he would find the reason in the mirror. The post also included updates on other fighters: Carlos Prates and Jack Della Maddalena had their first face-off, with observers noting Prates' large frame for welterweight. Shamil Gaziev reportedly weighed around 140 kg despite his division limit being 120 kg, raising concerns about his weight cut for an upcoming event in Australia. Arman Tsarukyan revealed that the UFC sent him an unexpected $42,000 bonus, which he believes may be related to his social media activity, though the organization did not specify the reason.
Sean Strickland took to social media to deliver a characteristically blunt one-liner aimed at Francis Ngannou, joking that the reason he carries a weapon could be found by Ngannou looking in the mirror — a nod to the former heavyweight champion's imposing size.
Strickland, the 35-year-old middleweight champion out of Xtreme Couture, carries a 31-7-0 record and has built his reputation as one of the sport's most relentless pressure fighters, averaging 6.04 significant strikes per minute. Standing six-foot-one with a 76-inch reach, he is undersized compared to Ngannou by any measure, which appears to be the point of the joke.
Elsewhere in the social media roundup, welterweight contender Jack Della Maddalena and Carlos Prates shared their first face-off, with onlookers commenting on Prates' notable frame for the 170-pound division. Della Maddalena, ranked fourth in the welterweight division and 13th pound-for-pound, holds an 18-4-0 record and lands significant strikes at a 51 percent accuracy rate — among the sharper numbers in the division. The 29-year-old Australian trains out of Scrappy MMA and stands five-foot-eleven.
Heavyweight Shamil Gaziev drew attention for a different reason. The 36-year-old Bahrain-based fighter, ranked 11th in the heavyweight division with a 14-3-0 record, reportedly tipped the scales at around 140 kg ahead of an event in Australia — well above the heavyweight limit of 120 kg. The extent of the required cut raised eyebrows among those monitoring his preparation.
Finally, lightweight contender Arman Tsarukyan revealed that the UFC deposited an unexpected $42,000 bonus into his account, with Tsarukyan speculating publicly that it may be connected to his social media activity. The organization offered no official explanation for the payment.
Why it matters
- Strickland's jab keeps the reigning middleweight champion visible and active on social media between fights
- Della Maddalena and Prates' face-off signals the buildup to what could be a significant welterweight matchup
- Gaziev's reported weight raises legitimate questions about his health and readiness heading into the Australia event
