Arman Tsarukyan revealed that the UFC recently sent him an unexpected bonus payment of $42,000. The lightweight contender stated he did not understand the reason for the payment, as the UFC typically does not specify the purpose of such bonuses. Tsarukyan speculated the money might be related to his social media activity or promotional work. He joked that he deliberately did not ask for clarification because his manager might request a percentage of the bonus. The post also included brief mentions of other fighters, including Sean Strickland commenting on Francis Ngannou, and Shamil Gaziev's weight currently sitting at 140 kilograms despite his division's 120-kilogram limit.
Arman Tsarukyan has revealed that the UFC sent him an unexpected bonus payment of $42,000, with the lightweight contender admitting he had no clear explanation for why the money arrived.
Tsarukyan disclosed the payment publicly, noting that the UFC does not typically accompany such transfers with an explanation. He speculated the funds could be tied to his social media presence or promotional contributions, though he acknowledged he deliberately chose not to seek clarification — joking that asking questions might prompt his manager to claim a percentage of the windfall.
The same post touched on a pair of other storylines making rounds in the MMA community. Middleweight champion Sean Strickland, 35, weighed in with a comment regarding Francis Ngannou, though the specifics of his remarks were not detailed. Strickland carries a 31-7-0 record and fights out of Xtreme Couture, known for one of the highest significant strike output rates in his division at 6.04 landed per minute.
Also mentioned was heavyweight Shamil Gaziev, ranked eleventh at 265 pounds, whose current body weight was noted at 140 kilograms — a considerable margin above the heavyweight division's 120-kilogram upper limit. The 36-year-old from Bahrain, who holds a 14-3-0 record and trains with KHK MMA, appears to be well into an off-season bulk at this stage.
Why it matters
- Unexpected UFC bonus payments with no stated purpose are unusual and draw attention to how the promotion compensates fighters beyond disclosed purses
- Strickland's continued public commentary keeps the middleweight champion in the news cycle between bouts
- Gaziev's significant weight above his competition limit is a notable data point, though no fight or timeline is currently attached to the information
