Arman Tsarukyan revealed that the UFC recently sent him an unexpected bonus payment of $42,000. Tsarukyan stated he was unsure what the payment was for, as the UFC typically does not specify the reason for such bonuses. He speculated it might be related to his social media activity. Tsarukyan joked that he did not ask for clarification because his manager might then request a percentage of the bonus. The post also mentions brief notes about other fighters including Strickland's comment about Francis Ngannou and weapon ownership, the first face-off between Carlos Prates and Jack Della Maddalena where Prates appeared very large for the welterweight division, and Shamil Gaziev weighing around 140kg with his tournament in Australia approaching.
Arman Tsarukyan has revealed that the UFC sent him an unexpected bonus payment of $42,000, with the Armenian-born Russian fighter admitting he had no clear idea what the money was for.
Tsarukyan, ranked number one in the lightweight division, said the UFC did not provide any explanation for the payment, which is apparently not unusual practice for the organization. He speculated the bonus could be connected to his social media activity, though he was not certain. In a humorous aside, Tsarukyan said he deliberately chose not to ask for clarification, joking that if his manager found out the reason, he might then request a cut of the money.
The 29-year-old carries a record of 23-3 and trains out of American Top Team. Standing five-foot-seven with a 72-inch reach, Tsarukyan is one of the most active and well-rounded fighters in the 155-pound weight class, averaging 3.85 significant strikes landed per minute at 50 percent accuracy, while also threatening consistently on the ground with 3.26 takedown attempts per 15 minutes.
Why it matters
- Tsarukyan sits at the top of the lightweight rankings, meaning any news surrounding him draws considerable divisional attention.
- The unusual nature of the undisclosed bonus adds an element of curiosity around UFC's internal bonus structures.
- His lighthearted response highlights the sometimes informal dynamic between fighters and the promotion outside of fight-week proceedings.
Separately, the same report touched on a few other items from around the MMA world, including Sean Strickland making comments involving Francis Ngannou and weapon ownership, Carlos Prates and Jack Della Maddalena completing their first face-off ahead of their welterweight matchup with Prates drawing attention for his size, and Shamil Gaziev noted to be weighing approximately 140 kilograms as his tournament in Australia draws closer.
