Sean Strickland recounted a conversation with Francis Ngannou about carrying a weapon, telling the former heavyweight champion he would find the reason in the mirror. At the UFC Perth media events, Carlos Prates and Jack Madalena faced off, with observers noting Prates' significant size for the welterweight division. Arman Tsarukyan revealed the UFC sent him an unexpected $42,000 bonus recently, possibly for social media work, though the organization did not specify the reason. Tsarukyan joked he did not ask for details to avoid his manager claiming a percentage. Shamil Gaziev reportedly weighed around 140kg before beginning his weight cut for UFC Perth in Australia.
Sean Strickland offered a characteristically blunt explanation for why he carries a weapon, tying the reasoning directly to former heavyweight champion Francis Ngannou. Strickland recounted telling Ngannou that the answer to his question could be found by looking in the mirror — a pointed reference to the physical threat posed by a man of Ngannou's stature. The remarks came amid media activity surrounding UFC Perth.
Strickland, the reigning middleweight champion, carries a 31-7-0 record and fights out of Xtreme Couture. The 35-year-old American stands six-foot-one with a 76-inch reach and has built a reputation on relentless output, landing 6.04 significant strikes per minute at 42 percent accuracy.
At the UFC Perth media events, welterweight contender Carlos Prates drew attention during a face-off with Jack Madalena, with observers remarking on how large Prates looks for the 170-pound division. The Brazilian, ranked fifth at welterweight, is 32 years old and stands six-foot-one with a 78-inch reach — notable dimensions for the weight class. Prates carries a 24-7-0 record and connects on 55 percent of his significant strikes, among the higher accuracy figures in the division.
Lightweight contender Arman Tsarukyan disclosed that the UFC recently sent him an unexpected forty-two-thousand-dollar bonus, with the organization offering no explanation for the payment. Tsarukyan speculated it may have been related to social media work and joked that he deliberately avoided asking for clarification so his manager could not claim a percentage of it.
Meanwhile, heavyweight Shamil Gaziev was reported to be weighing approximately 140 kilograms at the start of his weight cut ahead of UFC Perth. The 36-year-old, ranked eleventh in the heavyweight division, fights out of KHK MMA and stands six-foot-four with a 78-inch reach. Gaziev holds a 14-3-0 record and posts a striking accuracy of 47 percent.
Why it matters
- Strickland's comments add to his outspoken public profile heading into a busy stretch for the middleweight division
- Prates' size at welterweight reinforces why the ranked contender is considered a physically imposing matchup for anyone at 170 pounds
- Gaziev's reported pre-cut weight of 140 kilograms signals an extreme weight management effort before his Perth appearance
