Arman Tsarukyan revealed that the UFC recently sent him an unexpected payment of $42,000. The lightweight contender stated he did not know the reason for the bonus and that the promotion typically does not explain such payments. Tsarukyan speculated the money might be related to his social media activity. He jokingly mentioned not asking for clarification because his manager might then request a percentage. The post also included brief mentions of Sean Strickland commenting on Francis Ngannou, Carlos Prates and Jack Maddalena's first face-off where Prates appeared significantly larger, and Shamil Gaziev weighing around 140 kg with concerns about recovery time in Australia.
Arman Tsarukyan revealed on social media that the UFC deposited an unexpected $42,000 into his account, with the lightweight contender saying he had no idea what the payment was for.
Tsarukyan noted that the promotion does not typically offer explanations when it sends bonus payments, leaving him to speculate about the source. His best guess was that the money could be tied to his social media activity. In a lighter moment, he joked that he deliberately avoided asking for clarification because doing so might prompt his manager to request a cut of the windfall.
The post also touched on several other storylines circulating in the MMA world. Middleweight champion Sean Strickland, 35, was noted for commenting on Francis Ngannou. The American champion carries a 31-7-0 record and fights out of Xtreme Couture, landing an impressive 6.04 significant strikes per minute throughout his career.
Also mentioned was a first face-off between welterweight contender Jack Della Maddalena and Carlos Prates, in which Prates reportedly appeared significantly larger than the fourth-ranked Australian. Della Maddalena, 29, holds an 18-4-0 record and ranks thirteenth pound-for-pound, landing significant strikes at a 51 percent accuracy rate for Scrappy MMA.
Separately, heavyweight Shamil Gaziev drew attention after reportedly weighing around 140 kilograms, raising questions about his ability to recover in time for an upcoming bout in Australia. The Bahrain-based fighter, ranked eleventh in the heavyweight division, stands six-foot-four with a 78-inch reach and carries a 14-3-0 professional record.
Why it matters
- Tsarukyan's bonus hints at the UFC's opaque incentive structures, which rarely receive public acknowledgment from fighters
- Della Maddalena and Prates's size disparity at their face-off sets up an intriguing physical contrast heading into their welterweight matchup
- Gaziev's reported weight raises legitimate conditioning concerns ahead of a heavyweight contest in Australia
