Arman Tsarukyan has disclosed that the UFC recently sent him an unexpected bonus payment of $42,000. The lightweight contender stated that he received the money a few days ago but was not told what it was for, speculating it might have been related to his social media activity. Tsarukyan mentioned that the UFC regularly sends him extra bonuses beyond his fight purses. He joked that he did not ask for clarification about the payment's purpose because his manager might claim a percentage if he did. The post also briefly mentions that Carlos Prates and Jack Della Maddalena had their first face-off, and that Shamil Gaziev currently weighs around 140kg despite competing at 120kg, with UFC Perth taking place in Australia where recovery time is half the usual duration.
Arman Tsarukyan has revealed that the UFC sent him an unexpected bonus payment of $42,000, money he says arrived without any accompanying explanation.
The number-one ranked lightweight contender disclosed that the payment landed a few days before his comments and that the organization did not specify what the bonus was for. Tsarukyan speculated it may have been tied to his social media presence, adding that unexpected extra payments from the UFC beyond his standard fight purses are not unusual for him. In a moment of dry humor, he said he chose not to ask for clarification because his manager might take a cut once the purpose of the payment became official.
Tsarukyan, 29, fights out of American Top Team and carries a record of 23-3-0 in the lightweight division. The Russian contender stands five-foot-seven with a 72-inch reach and has built his reputation on a well-rounded game, averaging 3.85 significant strikes landed per minute at 50 percent accuracy while also threatening regularly on the ground with 3.26 takedown attempts per 15 minutes.
Why it matters
- Tsarukyan's position as the top-ranked lightweight makes any news surrounding him relevant to the division's title picture.
- The disclosure offers a rare glimpse into UFC bonus structures that extend beyond performance-of-the-night and fight-of-the-night awards.
- His comments about manager percentages, while joking, highlight the financial dynamics between fighters, their representation, and the promotion.
