Lightweight contender Arman Tsarukyan revealed that the UFC sent him an unexpected bonus of $42,000 a few days ago. He stated that he was not told what the payment was for, speculating it may have been related to his social media activity. Tsarukyan joked that he did not ask for details because his manager might request a percentage. The UFC reportedly sends him extra bonuses regularly. No official explanation for the payment was provided by the organization.
The UFC sent lightweight contender Arman Tsarukyan an unexpected bonus of $42,000 recently, with the organization offering no official explanation for the payment.
Tsarukyan, who competes out of American Top Team, disclosed the surprise payout himself, saying he received it just days ago without any accompanying details. The 29-year-old Russian speculated the money may have been tied to his social media activity, though he admitted he deliberately chose not to ask questions — joking that his manager might want a cut if he dug too deep into the reasoning. According to Tsarukyan, these kinds of unannounced bonuses from the UFC are not entirely out of the ordinary for him.
The fighter known as "Ahalkalakets" currently sits at number one in the lightweight rankings, carrying a record of 23 wins and 3 losses. Standing five-foot-seven with a 72-inch reach, Tsarukyan is one of the division's most well-rounded threats, landing 3.85 significant strikes per minute at a 50 percent accuracy rate while also averaging 3.26 takedowns per 15 minutes.
Why it matters
- Tsarukyan is the top-ranked lightweight, meaning any news surrounding him carries divisional weight
- The undisclosed nature of the payment is unusual, with no official statement from the UFC clarifying the purpose
- His candid, self-deprecating disclosure offers a rare glimpse into the informal financial relationship between the promotion and its high-profile fighters
