Sean Strickland recounted a conversation with Francis Ngannou in which he explained carrying a weapon by pointing to Ngannou's intimidating physical presence. Carlos Prates and Jack Della Maddalena held their first face-off ahead of their UFC welterweight bout, with observers noting Prates' massive frame at 170 pounds. Arman Tsarukyan revealed that the UFC recently sent him an unexpected bonus of $42,000 without explanation, speculating it might be related to his social media activity. Shamil Gaziev currently weighs around 140 kg, far above his 120 kg weight class, with limited time to cut weight before his upcoming fight in Australia.
Sean Strickland offered an unusual explanation for why he carries a firearm, telling Francis Ngannou that the heavyweight's sheer physical presence was reason enough to stay armed. The middleweight champion relayed the conversation publicly, framing Ngannou's intimidating size as the straightforward justification for the habit.
Strickland, 35, holds a 31-7-0 record and sits atop the middleweight division representing Xtreme Couture out of the United States. The six-foot-one, 185-centimeter champion carries a 76-inch reach and ranks among the most active strikers in the sport, landing 6.04 significant strikes per minute.
Elsewhere, welterweight contenders Carlos Prates and Jack Della Maddalena met face-to-face for the first time ahead of their upcoming bout, with onlookers drawing attention to the size Prates brings to the 170-pound limit. Della Maddalena enters the matchup ranked fourth in the welterweight division and thirteenth pound-for-pound at just 29 years old. The Australian carries an 18-4-0 record and connects on 51 percent of his significant strikes, averaging 5.57 per minute — one of the sharper output rates in the division.
Arman Tsarukyan revealed that the UFC deposited an unexpected $42,000 bonus into his account with no accompanying explanation. Tsarukyan speculated the payment may be tied to his social media activity, though the organization has offered no official comment.
Meanwhile, heavyweight Shamil Gaziev faces a significant logistical challenge heading into his scheduled fight in Australia. The 36-year-old, ranked eleventh in the heavyweight division and representing Bahrain under the KHK MMA banner, currently sits near 140 kilograms — well above his 120-kilogram weight class — with limited time remaining to make the cut. Gaziev stands six-foot-four and carries a 78-inch reach, posting a 47 percent striking accuracy across his 14-3-0 professional record.
Why it matters
- Strickland's public comments keep the champion in the conversation well outside fight week
- The Prates-Della Maddalena face-off signals a potentially significant welterweight ranking bout taking shape
- Gaziev's weight situation raises real questions about his readiness for the Australia card
- Tsarukyan's mystery bonus adds an unusual footnote to the UFC's fighter-relations picture
