Arman Tsarukyan revealed that the UFC recently sent him an unexpected bonus of $42,000. He stated he doesn't know what the payment was for, as the UFC typically doesn't provide explanations for such bonuses. Tsarukyan speculated it might be related to his social media activity. He joked that he didn't ask for details because his manager might then want a percentage of the bonus. The lightweight contender seemed pleasantly surprised by the payment. This provides insight into how the UFC sometimes compensates fighters beyond their contracted purses.
Arman Tsarukyan has revealed that the UFC deposited an unexpected $42,000 bonus into his account, with no accompanying explanation from the promotion.
The Russian lightweight contender said he received the payment recently and remains unsure what it was for, noting that the UFC typically does not clarify the reasoning behind such transfers. Tsarukyan speculated the bonus could be tied to his social media presence, though he acknowledged that was little more than a guess. He also joked that he deliberately avoided asking too many questions, reasoning that his manager might then seek a cut of the windfall.
Tsarukyan, 29, is currently ranked number one in the UFC lightweight division and fights out of American Top Team. Standing five-foot-seven with a 72-inch reach, he carries a professional record of 23-3 and has established himself as one of the most well-rounded fighters in the 155-pound weight class. He lands 3.85 significant strikes per minute at a 50 percent accuracy rate, while also posing a persistent grappling threat with 3.26 takedowns per 15 minutes.
Why it matters
- The disclosure offers a rare glimpse into how the UFC occasionally compensates fighters outside of formally contracted purses.
- For a fighter of Tsarukyan's ranking, the payment underlines that top contenders can receive undisclosed supplemental income from the promotion.
- The lighthearted way he addressed the situation highlights the often informal and opaque nature of UFC bonus structures, which rarely come with itemized explanations.
