Sean Strickland recounted a conversation with Francis Ngannou about why he carries a weapon, telling Ngannou "he would find the reason in the mirror." In other news, Carlos Prates and Jack Della Maddalena had their first faceoff, with observers noting Prates appeared massive and questioning how he makes the 77kg weight limit given his size and lack of dietary discipline. Meanwhile, Shamil Gaziev currently weighs around 140kg despite competing at 120kg, with concerns about his recovery time being halved for the Australia-based event. Arman Tsarukyan revealed the UFC recently sent him an unexpected $42,000 bonus, possibly related to his social media work, joking that he didn't ask for details to avoid his manager claiming a percentage.
Sean Strickland has offered a characteristically blunt explanation for why he carries a firearm, recounting a conversation with Francis Ngannou in which he told the former heavyweight champion that Ngannou would find the answer "in the mirror." The middleweight champion shared the exchange publicly, adding another chapter to his reputation for unfiltered commentary.
Strickland, 35, holds a 31-7-0 record and has established himself as one of the busiest strikers in the UFC, averaging 6.04 significant strikes per minute. The American trains out of Xtreme Couture and has held the middleweight title through a run that has made him one of the division's most polarizing and prominent figures.
At the welterweight faceoff between Carlos Prates and Jack Della Maddalena, observers were struck by how physically imposing Prates looked, with questions surfacing about how he manages to compete at 77 kilograms given his apparent size and reported lack of strict dietary habits. Della Maddalena, ranked fourth in the welterweight division and 13th pound-for-pound, carries a 18-4-0 record and lands 5.57 significant strikes per minute at 51 percent accuracy, making him one of the more dangerous strikers in the weight class. The Australian is 29 years old and trains out of Scrappy MMA.
Heavyweight contender Shamil Gaziev is drawing attention for a different reason. The 36-year-old, ranked 11th at heavyweight and competing at the 120-kilogram limit, is currently reported to weigh approximately 140 kilograms, raising concerns about his ability to make weight given the compressed recovery window associated with the Australia-based event.
Arman Tsarukyan, meanwhile, revealed the UFC sent him an unexpected $42,000 bonus, which he suggested may be tied to his social media activity. He joked that he deliberately avoided asking for clarification so his manager could not claim a percentage of the payment.
Why it matters
- Prates versus Della Maddalena carries significant welterweight rankings implications, with the fourth-ranked contender on the line
- Gaziev's reported weight raises legitimate questions about his preparation and health ahead of his upcoming bout
- Strickland's public persona continues to generate attention around the middleweight division even outside of fight announcements
