Arman Tsarukyan disclosed that UFC recently sent him an unexpected bonus of $42,000, though he was not told the reason for the payment. He speculated it might be related to his social media activity but expressed uncertainty about the actual cause. Tsarukyan joked that he deliberately avoided asking for details because his manager might request a percentage of the bonus if informed. The post also includes brief mentions of Sean Strickland commenting on Francis Ngannou, the size difference between Carlos Prates and Jack Maddalena at their face-off, and Shamil Gaziev's weight being around 140 kg despite fighting at 120 kg with less recovery time available in Australia. Additional context notes this information comes from a daily MMA news digest.
Arman Tsarukyan has revealed that the UFC quietly deposited an unexpected $42,000 bonus into his account, offering no explanation for the payment.
The Armenian lightweight disclosed the news publicly, saying he was left to guess the reason behind the windfall. He speculated the bonus could be tied to his social media presence, though he admitted he had no real certainty. In a moment of candid humor, Tsarukyan added that he deliberately chose not to ask the UFC for clarification — because doing so might alert his manager, who could then seek a cut of the money.
The disclosure came as part of a broader MMA news digest that touched on several other items from around the sport. Middleweight champion Sean Strickland, who carries a 31-7-0 record and lands an impressive 6.04 significant strikes per minute, was noted to have weighed in with a comment about Francis Ngannou, though specifics of his remarks were not detailed. Meanwhile, the face-off between Carlos Prates and fourth-ranked welterweight Jack Della Maddalena drew attention for the notable size difference between the two fighters. Della Maddalena, a 29-year-old Australian fighting out of Scrappy MMA, holds an 18-4-0 record and connects on 51 percent of his significant strikes.
Also mentioned was heavyweight Shamil Gaziev, ranked eleventh in the division with a 14-3-0 record. The 36-year-old, who stands six-foot-four and competes at the 265-pound limit, was reported to be walking around at approximately 140 kilograms — a figure that takes on added significance given that his upcoming bout in Australia offers less time to recover from the weight cut than fighters typically have under standard UFC scheduling.
Why it matters
- Unexpected bonuses without public explanation are rare, raising questions about how the UFC structures discretionary payments to fighters.
- Della Maddalena's size disadvantage against Prates could be a meaningful stylistic factor heading into their matchup.
- Gaziev's significant weight above the heavyweight limit, combined with a compressed Australian turnaround, adds an unusual physical variable to his preparation.
