Arman Tsarukyan disclosed that the UFC recently sent him an unexpected bonus of $42,000. Tsarukyan stated he did not understand what the payment was for, as the UFC typically does not explain such bonuses. He speculated it might be related to his social media activity. The fighter joked that he did not ask for details because his manager might claim a percentage if it were explained. The post also mentions that Carlos Prates and Jack Della Maddalena had their first faceoff, with Prates appearing very large for the welterweight division.
Arman Tsarukyan recently revealed that the UFC sent him an unexpected payment of $42,000 — and the lightweight contender admitted he had no idea what it was for.
Tsarukyan, ranked first in the lightweight division at 29 years old, said the UFC rarely explains such bonuses and that he chose not to press for details. In a candid moment, he joked that keeping his manager in the dark was intentional — if the source of the money were clarified, his manager might claim a percentage of it. Tsarukyan speculated the payment could be tied to his social media presence. The Russian fighter out of American Top Team carries a 23-3-0 record and has built a reputation as one of the division's most dangerous grapplers, averaging 3.26 takedowns per 15 minutes.
The same post also highlighted the first faceoff between welterweights Carlos Prates and Jack Della Maddalena, with Prates drawing attention for his notably large frame for the 170-pound division.
Prates, known as "The Nightmare," represents Brazil and trains out of Vale Top Team. The 32-year-old holds a 24-7-0 record and stands six-foot-one with a 78-inch reach — considerable dimensions for welterweight. He lands significant strikes at a rate of 3.77 per minute with 55 percent accuracy and is ranked fifth in the division.
Della Maddalena, ranked fourth at welterweight, is a 29-year-old Australian out of Scrappy MMA with an 18-4-0 record. He lands 5.57 significant strikes per minute at 51 percent accuracy and holds the 13th spot in the pound-for-pound rankings. Standing five-foot-eleven with a 73-inch reach, the size difference between the two fighters was immediately apparent at their faceoff.
Why it matters
- Tsarukyan's bonus disclosure offers a rare glimpse into UFC payment structures outside standard fight purses
- The Prates vs. Della Maddalena faceoff signals that matchup is taking shape, with significant divisional rankings implications at stake
- The reach and height advantage Prates holds over Della Maddalena sets up a compelling physical contrast between two top-five welterweights
