Arman Tsarukyan revealed the UFC recently sent him an unexpected bonus payment of $42,000. The lightweight contender stated he doesn't know the specific reason for the payment, saying the UFC typically doesn't explain such bonuses. Tsarukyan speculated it might be related to his social media activity but admitted he didn't ask for clarification because his manager might want a percentage if it's officially explained. The comment was made humorously as Tsarukyan discussed his relationship with the promotion. Meanwhile, Sean Strickland made comments about Francis Ngannou and carrying a weapon, Carlos Prates and Jack Maddalena had their first face-off with Prates appearing notably large for welterweight, and Shamil Gaziev weighed around 140kg despite fighting at 120kg with limited recovery time in Australia.
Arman Tsarukyan has revealed that the UFC recently sent him an unexpected bonus payment of $42,000, with the Armenian-Russian lightweight contender admitting he has no clear idea why the money arrived.
Speaking publicly about his relationship with the promotion, Tsarukyan said the UFC does not typically explain such payments when they are issued. He speculated the bonus could be tied to his social media activity but stopped short of seeking official clarification — joking that asking might prompt his manager to claim a percentage of the sum. The candid, lighthearted remarks offered a rare glimpse into the financial side of a fighter's dealings with the promotion.
Tsarukyan is one of the lightweight division's most prominent contenders and has established himself as a serious threat at 155 pounds.
Elsewhere, middleweight champion Sean Strickland made headlines with comments referencing Francis Ngannou and the topic of carrying a weapon. Strickland, 35, holds a 31-7-0 record and remains one of the sport's most outspoken figures. The American fighter out of Xtreme Couture lands an eye-catching 6.04 significant strikes per minute and carries a 76-inch reach.
At welterweight, Carlos Prates and fourth-ranked Jack Della Maddalena met face-to-face for the first time, with Prates drawing attention for appearing notably large for the 170-pound division. Della Maddalena, the 29-year-old Australian standout who fights out of Scrappy MMA, carries an 18-4-0 record and connects at 51 percent striking accuracy — among the sharper marks in the welterweight ranks.
Meanwhile, ranked heavyweight Shamil Gaziev raised eyebrows in Australia after it was reported he was weighing approximately 140 kilograms despite competing in a division with a 120-kilogram limit, with limited recovery time available before the bout. The 36-year-old Bahrain-based fighter holds a 14-3-0 record and stands six-foot-four with a 78-inch reach.
Why it matters
- Tsarukyan's bonus story highlights the sometimes opaque nature of UFC fighter compensation
- Della Maddalena and Prates sizing each other up signals rising stakes in a loaded welterweight division
- Gaziev's reported weight situation in Australia raises legitimate questions about fighter health and cut management at heavyweight
