Arman Tsarukyan revealed the UFC sent him an unexpected $42,000 bonus a few days ago. The lightweight contender stated he was unsure of the reason for the payment, noting the organization typically does not explain such bonuses. Tsarukyan speculated it might be related to his social media activity. He joked about not asking for clarification to avoid his manager requesting a percentage. The post also mentioned Sean Strickland's comments about Francis Ngannou, Carlos Prates and Jack Della Maddalena's first face-off highlighting Prates' size, and Shamil Gaziev's weight management concerns for an Australian event.
Arman Tsarukyan revealed this week that the UFC deposited an unexpected $42,000 bonus into his account with no formal explanation attached, leaving the lightweight contender genuinely puzzled about the origin of the payment.
Tsarukyan noted that the organization rarely clarifies the reasoning behind such transfers, and he speculated the money might be tied to his social media activity. In a moment of self-deprecating humor, he added that he deliberately avoided seeking answers so his manager would not find out and request a cut.
The lightweight contender was not the only fighter drawing attention in the same news cycle. Middleweight champion Sean Strickland, 35, made remarks about Francis Ngannou that drew notice, while Welterweight contender Jack Della Maddalena faced off with Carlos Prates for the first time, with observers highlighting the physical size difference between the two fighters. Della Maddalena, who is 29 and ranked fourth in the welterweight division, carries an 18-4 record and lands significant strikes at a rate of 5.57 per minute with 51 percent accuracy. Also mentioned in the same post was ranked heavyweight Shamil Gaziev, the 36-year-old from Bahrain sitting at number 11 in his division, who is reportedly managing weight concerns ahead of an event in Australia.
Why it matters
- Unexpected organizational bonuses rarely surface publicly, making Tsarukyan's candid disclosure an unusual look inside UFC financial dealings.
- Della Maddalena's size disadvantage against Prates adds an early narrative layer to what is shaping up as a meaningful welterweight matchup.
- Gaziev's weight management situation at heavyweight could affect his preparation timeline for his Australian appearance.
